DATE=1/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244024
TITLE=COHEN IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS AMERICAN FORCES
REMAIN PREPARED TO RESPOND, IF IRAQ MOVES AGAINST ITS NEIGHBORS.
MR. COHEN WAS REACTING TO A RESOLUTION APPROVED SUNDAY BY IRAQI
LAWMAKERS THAT BLAMES KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA FOR LAST MONTH'S
U-S AND BRITISH AIR ATTACKS ON IRAQ. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS
FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: MR. COHEN TOLD REPORTERS TRAVELING WITH HIM TO TOKYO THAT
ANY IRAQI ACTIONS AGAINST KUWAIT, SAUDI ARABIA, OR KURDS WITHIN
IRAQ WOULD BE A "FLAGRANT VIOLATION" OF U-N SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS.
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THOSE RESOLUTION ESTABLISH A BORDER BETWEEN
IRAQ AND KUWAIT. IRAQ SPARKED THE 1991 GULF WAR BY CLAIMING THAT
KUWAIT WAS LEGALLY A PROVINCE OF IRAQ AND INVADING THE TINY, OIL
RICH NATION.
SOME MEMBERS OF IRAQ'S PARLIAMENT SAY BAGHDAD SHOULD STOP
RECOGNIZING KUWAIT AND THE U-N ESTABLISHED BORDER.
U-N RESOLUTIONS ALSO DEMAND THAT IRAQ STOP ATTACKING MINORITY
KURDS AND SHI'ITE MUSLIMS, AND STOP THREATENING ITS NEIGHBORS.
KUWAIT RESPONDED TO THE IRAQI COMMENTS BY PUTTING SOME ARMY UNITS
ON ALERT. KUWAIT'S DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS RESERVE FORCES MAY BE
CALLED UP.
PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY SOME 24-THOUSAND-600 AMERICAN SERVICE
PERSONNEL ARE ON WATCH WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF IRAQ, AND THEY
ARE EQUIPPED WITH 182 PLANES, AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND A NUMBER OF
SHIPS THAT CAN LAUNCH CRUISE MISSILES.
FRIDAY, U-S OFFICIALS SAID THEY WOULD ADD MORE THAN A DOZEN
PLANES TO THE FORCE -- INCLUDING EIGHT SPECIALLY EQUIPPED TO HUNT
AND DESTROY IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT FACILITIES.
OFFICIALS SAY THE U-S TASK FORCE IS NOT ON ANY KIND OF
HEIGHTENED ALERT, BUT POINT OUT THAT THE SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND
AIR CREWS IN THE AREA OPERATE ON A WAR FOOTING MOST OF THE TIME
ANYWAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/ENE/JO
11-Jan-99 11:27 AM EST (1627 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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