DATE=1/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244088
TITLE=IRAQ TUESDAY - L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A U-S WARPLANE FIRED A MISSILE AT A RADAR STATION IN
NORTHERN IRAQ TUESDAY. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY DON'T YET KNOW IF
THE WEAPON DAMAGED IRAQI AIR DEFENSES. THE U-S PILOT RETURNED
SAFELY TO BASE. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE TARGET WAS AN IRAQI EARLY
WARNING RADAR, LOCATED NEAR MOSUL. THE RADAR SYSTEM ALERTS IRAQI
AIR DEFENSES TO THE APPROACH OF AIR CRAFT. U-S OFFICIALS SAY IT
IS PART OF THE IRAQI AIR DEFENSES AND A THREAT TO U-S PLANES.
SEVERAL EARLIER INCIDENTS BEGAN WHEN IRAQI MISSILE OPERATORS
TARGETED ALLIED AIRCRAFT WITH ANOTHER KIND OF RADAR THAT GUIDES
MISSILES.
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN MIKE DOUBLEDAY SAYS TUESDAY'S INCIDENT IS NOT
A CHANGE IN U-S POLICY.
/// DOUBLEDAY ACT 71 ///
IT IS OUR POLICY TO ENFORCE THE NO FLY ZONES AND TO TAKE
MEASURES WE DEEM APPROPRIATE TO PROTECT OUR PILOTS AND
AIR CREWS. WHAT'S CHANGED IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS IS
A DECISION ON THE PART OF SADDAM HUSSEIN TO CHALLENGE
THE NO FLY ZONES.
///END ACT ///
CAPTAIN DOUBLEDAY SAYS IRAQI PLANES ENTERED THE NORTHERN AND
SOUTHERN NO FLY ZONES SEVEN TIMES TUESDAY, BUT DID NOT ENCOUNTER
COALITION AIRCRAFT. SOME IRAQI PLANES APPARENTLY LANDED IN THE NO
FLY ZONES.
OFFICIALS SAY IRAQI AIRCRAFT HAVE FLOWN INTO THE FLIGHT EXCLUSION
ZONES NEARLY 50 TIMES SINCE DECEMBER'S U-S LED ATTACKS ON SITES
THOUGHT TO HIDE IRAQI WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
THE NO FLY ZONES WERE SET UP FOLLOWING THE 1991 GULF WAR TO
PROTECT ETHNIC MINORITIES FROM IRAQI AIR ATTACKS. WASHINGTON
SAYS U-N RESOLUTIONS BANNING IRAQI ATTACKS ON ITS OWN PEOPLE OR
ITS NEIGHBORS ARE THE LEGAL BASIS FOR BANNING IRAQI PLANES FROM
MORE THAN HALF OF IRAQI AIRSPACE. BAGHDAD SAYS THE NO FLY ZONES
ARE ILLEGAL AND HAS PROMISED TO SHOOT DOWN U-S PLANES IN IRAQI
SKIES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/GE
12-Jan-99 3:58 PM EST (2058 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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