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DATE=1/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244035
TITLE=IRAQ U-S PLANES (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: U-S WARPLANES FIRED AT IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT SITES MONDAY. 
U-S OFFICIALS SAY IRAQI SOLDIERS THREATENED U-S PLANES BY 
POINTING MISSILE RADARS AT THEM.  U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NOT 
YET SURE IF THE AMERICAN WEAPONS HIT THEIR TARGETS.  V-O-A'S JIM 
RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON ALL U-S AIRCRAFT RETURNED SAFELY
TO THEIR BASE IN TURKEY. 
TEXT:  THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED NEAR MOSUL, IN NORTHERN IRAQ.  U-S 
OFFICIALS SAY COALITION AIRCRAFT WERE PATROLLING THE NORTHERN NO 
FLY ZONE WHEN THEY DETECTED THE DISTINCTIVE KIND OF RADAR USED TO
GUIDE ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES.  
U-S OFFICIALS SAY POINTING MISSILE RADARS AT PLANES, OR 
"ILLUMINATING" THEM IN MILITARY PARLANCE, IS A HOSTILE ACT 
BECAUSE IT CAN GUIDE SUPERSONIC ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES TOWARD THE
PLANES IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.
U-S JETS RESPONDED WITH PRECISION GUIDED BOMBS AND A RADAR 
SEEKING MISSILE. THE AMERICAN FORCES IN THIS INCIDENT ARE BASED 
IN TURKEY, BUT SUPERVISED FROM A U-S BASE IN GERMANY. CAPTAIN 
MIKE BLASS, SPEAKING FROM STUTTGART, SAYS U-S PILOTS TAKE SPECIAL
CARE TO DESTROY ENEMY RADAR SYSTEMS.
                 /// CAPT MIKE BLASS ACT 26 /// 
         THE ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEM, THEY USE RADAR TO TRACK OUR 
         AIRCRAFT AND THEY MIGHT HAVE MULTIPLE MISSILE SYSTEMS 
         AROUND BEING TRACKED WITH THAT ONE RADAR.  SO IF WE CAN 
         TAKE OUT THE RADAR, IT DISABLES THAT WHOLE LINE OF 
         MISSILES.
                       /// END ACT 30 /// 
THIS THE FIFTH IN A SERIES OF ARMED CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN U-S 
AND BRITISH PLANES AND IRAQI FORCES SINCE LAST MONTH'S MAJOR AIR 
RAIDS ON PLACES WHERE IRAQ WAS SUSPECTED OF HIDING BANNED 
WEAPONS.  
THE INCIDENTS HAVE ALL INVOLVED BRITISH OR U-S PLANES ENFORCING 
THE NO FLY ZONES SET UP AFTER THE GULF WAR TO PROTECT THE KURDS 
IN THE NORTH AND SHI'ITE MUSLIMS IN THE SOUTH.  WASHINGTON AND 
LONDON SAY U-N RESOLUTIONS THAT ORDER BAGHDAD TO STOP ATTACKING 
ITS OWN PEOPLE AND THREATENING ITS NEIGHBORS, PROVIDE THE LEGAL 
BASIS NEEDED TO BAN IRAQI AIRCRAFT FROM MOST OF IRAQ'S AIR SPACE.
IRAQ CALLS THE FLIGHT EXCLUSION ZONES OUTRAGEOUS AND ILLEGAL. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/JR/ENE/JO
11-Jan-99 2:10 PM EST (1910 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.