DATE=1/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243949
TITLE=DESERT FOX TOLL - L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TOP U-S GENERALS SAY DECEMBER'S "DESERT FOX" AIR RAIDS
KILLED UP TO TWO THOUSAND ELITE IRAQI TROOPS, AS WELL AS SOME KEY
OFFICIALS. U-S OFFICIALS SAY IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN IS
SHOWING SIGNS OF STRAIN AFTER THE CAMPAIGN. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE
REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON THAT OFFICIALS SAY THEY MAY SOON
BOLSTER U-S FORCES IN THE GULF WITH SOME SPECIAL AIRCRAFT.
TEXT: AMERICA'S HIGHEST RANKING MILITARY OFFICER, GENERAL HUGH
SHELTON, SAYS INTELLIGENCE FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES SHOWS THAT
"SEVERAL KEY INDIVIDUALS" IN BAGHDAD'S LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE DIED
IN THE DECEMBER AIR RAIDS.
THE GENERAL ALSO SAYS BETWEEN 6-HUNDRED AND 16-HUNDRED MEMBERS OF
IRAQ'S ELITE REPUBLICAN GUARD AND SPECIAL REPUBLICAN GUARD DIED
WHEN MISSILES CAUGHT THEM ASLEEP IN THEIR BARRACKS. HE SAYS SOME
INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATES PUT THE LOSSES AS HIGH AS 2-THOUSAND.
GENERAL SHELTON SAYS TWO OR THREE TIMES THAT NUMBER MAY HAVE BEEN
INJURED BY THE NIGHT TIME RAIDS. THE SPECIAL REPUBLICAN GUARD
WAS TARGETED BY THE RAIDS BECAUSE THEY PROTECT SADDAM HUSSEIN AND
THE PROGRAMS TO PRODUCE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
THE COMMANDER OF OPERATION "DESERT FOX," GENERAL ANTHONY ZINNI,
SAYS NEW INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION SHOWS THAT THE DECEMBER RAIDS
WERE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN FIRST THOUGHT. HE SAYS IT NOW APPEARS
IRAQ'S PROGRAMS TO PRODUCE MISSILES, AND CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS WERE SET BACK AT LEAST TWO YEARS, BECAUSE CRITICAL,
HARD-TO-REPLACE EQUIPMENT WAS WRECKED.
/// ZINNI ACT 005 ///
IN THIS EQUIPMENT NOW THAT WE ARE SEEING, THAT WAS
STRUCK AND SEVERELY DAMAGED, WE'RE SEEING SOME UNIQUE
PIECES OF EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR HIS MISSILE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, THINGS LIKE TEST STANDS AND OTHER
KINDS OF FACILITIES, SPECIAL KINDS OF PRESSES AND
EQUIPMENT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO GO EXTERNAL TO GET.
/// END ACT ////
/// OPT /// GENERAL ZINNI SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN IS TAKING ACTIONS
THAT SHOW HE IS WORRIED ABOUT INTERNAL SECURITY, INCLUDING
EXECUTING CIVILIANS IN SOUTHERN IRAQ AS WELL AS SOME KEY MILITARY
OFFICERS.
/// ZINNI ACT ///
ON THE DIVISION, WE HEARD IT WAS THE DIVISION COMMANDER
AND SOME OF HIS STAFF, BUT I DIDN'T GET A SPECIFIC
NUMBER.
/// END ACT /// /// END OPT ///
GENERAL ZINNI SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN SEEMS "SHAKEN" BY THE AIR RAIDS
AND OTHER U-S ACTIONS. THE GENERAL IS TURNING UP THE HEAT ON
IRAQ BY ASKING FOR MORE U-S AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING EIGHT THAT ARE
SPECIALLY EQUIPPED TO DESTROY ANTIAIRCRAFT RADARS.
THE GENERALS SAY WASHINGTON'S POLICY IS ONE OF CONTAINMENT,
PATIENCE AND FORCE. THEY SAY THEY WILL BLOCK BAGHDAD'S ATTEMPTS
TO MAKE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, OR THREATEN ITS NEIGHBORS,
USING WHATEVER FORCE IS NEEDED. THEY ALSO SAY THEY WANT TO
PRESERVE IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, AND THE STABILITY OF THE
CRITICAL PERSIAN GULF REGION.
SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE URGING A STRONGER POLICY AGAINST
IRAQ, INCLUDING BOMBING RAIDS ON IRAQI AIR FIELDS. OTHER EXPERTS
ARE URGING ATTACKS ON FACILITIES, LIKE FERTILIZER OR
PHARMACEUTICAL PLANTS THAT COULD PRODUCE CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS. GENERAL ZINNI WILL SAY ONLY THAT HE "CAN'T RULE OUT"
SUCH ATTACKS IN THE FUTURE. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/ENE/GE
08-Jan-99 1:05 PM EST (1805 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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