21 December 1998
IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION CAPABILITIES DIMINISHED
(Zinni says Iraqi command-and-control damaged severely) (910) By Jacquelyn S. Porth USIA Security Affairs Writer Washington -- Despite sustained joint U.S. and British air strikes against Iraqi military targets, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is still "a threat," but his military capability has been dealt a severe blow, according to top U.S. military and civilian officials. Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni, who planned and commanded the four-night air campaign known as "Operation Desert Fox," says countries in the Middle East continue to "view him (Saddam Hussein) as a threat" and they "appreciate us being there providing a counter and a deterrence to that threat." Defense Secretary Cohen, who introduced Zinni at a December 21 Pentagon news conference, said that the successful U.S. and British military operation succeeded in degrading Iraq's capability to use weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by: -- delaying Iraqi ballistic missile development "by at least a year," thereby making it more difficult for Iraq to launch chemical and biological weapons against its neighbors, -- diminishing Iraq's overall ability to direct and secure its WMD program, and -- further retarding Iraq's ability to launch a regional attack "by severely damaging the Iraqi military command and control system." At another news conference later the same day, Cohen made the point that Iraq should permit United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) inspectors back into the country (they were withdrawn when it was determined that they could no longer effectively pursue the UNSCOM arms control mission). "We are hoping that Saddam Hussein will see the wisdom of allowing the inspectors back to do their job," he said, "because he will never find relief until such time as he does so." Zinni indicated that he would soon make a recommendation about the size and duration of the U.S. presence in the region. But he signaled the answer, in part, by saying a U.S. force provides "stability in the region," and by noting that U.S. vital interests require a continued presence. Those interests dictate that the United States, supported by its allies, have the ability to deter Saddam Hussein. The U.S. commander also took care to point out that the allied mission involved "enforcement of a U.N. resolution that...Saddam Hussein, was in violation of, and we felt that we are legally justified in taking that action." Zinni expressed satisfaction with the effectiveness of "Operation Desert Fox" and said he is convinced that the operation's military objectives were achieved through the 70-hour air campaign which was carried out with missiles, aircraft, and precision-guided munitions. He said more than 30,000 U.S. troops in the Middle East and Gulf were involved directly, while another 10,000 provided support from farther away. He provided other statistics as well, noting that 600 sorties were flown using 300 aircraft. During the operation, 600 pieces of ordnance were launched and 90 air-launched cruise missiles were used. Zinni said over 40 ships carried out a variety of attack and supporting roles; 10 launching more than 300 Tomahawk missiles. He also said U.S. Special Operations forces were involved in creating and distributing three million leaflets in Arabic to Iraqi troops in the south. He also expressed his appreciation to U.S. and British friends in the region who provided support including permission for overflight and aircraft basing rights. Zinni spent considerable time discussing the qualitative and quantitative aspects of evaluating bomb damage involving some 100 Iraqi targets. He showed new black-and-white photographs of damage inflicted on targets such as the Iraqi Ministry of Defense in Baghdad and the Ba'ath Party headquarters as well as Republican Guard headquarters and bunkers in other parts of the country. Seventy-four percent of the Iraqi targets were hit in such a way, he explained, that military planners believe they achieved what they had set out to accomplish. Zinni pointed out that certain targets carry greater value than others, which means "you might seek a degree of destruction or disruption beyond what you would on other, lesser important targets." Attacks on Iraqi military equipment and infrastructure were "highly successful," according to the U.S. commander. He cited success, for example, against Iraqi helicopters which had been poorly hidden. The swiftness of the air strikes limited Saddam Hussein's ability to prepare militarily, according to Zinni, and shortened the time he had to disperse his troops. It also eliminated Iraq's ability to establish traps for allied air forces using surface-to-air missiles. Asked about the military rules under which Zinni might have the authority to again re-target Iraq, he said he would only have the right to take action if Saddam Hussein's forces took some offensive action against U.S. military forces who are enforcing sanctions against Iraq through the no-fly zones in the north and south of Iraq or through the nearby maritime intercept operations. There have been no reports of U.S. or British casualties since the air campaign ended. Zinni said he did not know the number of casualties Iraq may have sustained, although early press reporting suggested 68 Iraqis killed. The U.S. commander also said care was taken to avoid environmental damage when an Iraqi oil facility was attacked in the south. It was a target, he said, because it was being used for illegal gas oil smuggling. For more information about "Operation Desert Fox" see http:www.usia.govregionalneairaqiraq.htm.
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