DATE=2/4/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245127
TITLE=IRAQ / AIR DEFENSES (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY CONTINUED ALLIED AIR RAIDS ON
IRAQ HAVE SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BAGHDAD'S AIR DEFENSES. THE NEW
ASSESSMENT FOLLOWS REPORTS THAT KEY IRAQI AIR DEFENSE WEAPONS ARE
BEING MOVED OUT OF THE NO FLY ZONES. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE
REPORTS.
TEXT: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN MIKE DOUBLEDAY SAYS WEEKS OF NEARLY
DAILY AIR ATTACKS ON IRAQ HAVE COST BAGHDAD MANY RADARS,
MISSILES, AND ANTIAIRCRAFT GUNS.
/// DOUBLEDAY ACT ///
WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE HAVING A VERY GRAVE IMPACT ON THE IRAQI
AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM. WE HAVE DIMINISHED HIS (SADDAM HUSSEIN'S)
ABILITIES IN THAT REGARD, HE HAS LOST A VARIETY OF AIR DEFENSE
COMPONENTS. HE HAS LOST A VARIETY OF MISSILE COMPONENTS.
/// END ACT ///
PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE BAN ON MOST KINDS OF TRADE WITH IRAQ
MAKE IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR BAGHDAD TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED
WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT.
RIGHT AFTER DECEMBER'S ALLIED AIR RAIDS ON IRAQ, DEFENSE
OFFICIALS SAID BAGHDAD DOUBLED OR TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF
SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES IN THE NO-FLY ZONES THAT COVER MUCH OF
THE COUNTRY.
MORE RECENTLY, BAGHDAD APPEARED TO BE PULLING THESE KEY WEAPONS
OUT OF THE NO-FLY ZONES TO AREAS NEAR BAGHDAD TO AVOID WESTERN
BOMBINGS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR U-S FORCES IN THE PERSIAN GULF, MAJOR JOE
LAMARCA, SAYS THAT'S PROBABLY WHY MISSILES HAVE BEEN MOVED AROUND
THE COUNTRY.
/// LAMARCA ACT ///
ONE COULD ASSUME THAT HE WOULD MOVE THESE BATTERIES IN ORDER TO
PROTECT THEM AGAINST ATTACKS.
/// END ACT ///
MEANTIME, DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY THE MIGRATION OF IRAQI AIR
DEFENSE EQUIPMENT OUT OF THE NO FLY ZONES SEEMS TO HAVE STOPPED
FOR THE MOMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/WDC/JO
04-Feb-99 5:49 PM EST (2249 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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