DATE=9/10/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ BOMBING
NUMBER=5-44240
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U.S. warplanes bombed an air defense early
warning center in northern Iraq Friday after coming
under anti-aircraft fire. The incident is typical of
the frequent and continuing clashes between Allied
planes and Iraqi air defenses over the past nine
months. Iraq is leading Sunday's Arab League meeting
in Cairo and officials say Baghdad wants to put the
rift between Iraq and the United States high on the
agenda. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports, the meeting
follows unsuccessful efforts to gather key U-N members
in Washington for talks on a new policy toward Iraq.
TEXT: U-S officials say the latest incident follows a
pattern of confrontation. Iraq anti-aircraft gunners
fire their weapons at patrolling allied jets, which
respond by firing precision guided bombs and missiles
at Iraqi air defense facilities.
U-S Air Force Major Mike Young, (speaking by phone
from the Turkish air field where many of the Allied
planes are based,) says whatever diplomatic efforts
are underway, they have had no noticeable impact on
the air operations patrolling the No-fly zones over
Iraq.
/// YOUNG ACT ///
Its really been going on at about the same pace
for quite some time. We seem to be getting a
good sampling of triple (anti-aircraft artillery
fire) response just about every mission we fly.
And that seems to be pretty much the norm, every
day we go out. I would say the pace has not
really picked up, its been pretty steady.
/// END ACT ///
Allied planes patrol much of Iraq to keep Baghdad's
planes and ground forces from attacking dissident
groups in the North and South. The No-fly zones were
instituted after the Gulf War but there were only
occasion clashes until this year.
In December, Iraq refused to allow U-N weapons experts
to continue inspecting sites for banned germ, chemical
or nuclear weapons. British and American planes
responded with a massive bombing campaign known as
"Desert Fox."
Since then, Iraqi gunners have stepped up their
challenges to allied planes patrolling the "no-fly"
zones and Baghdad refuses to allow U-N inspectors to
resume their work.
With the inspectors gone, U-S officials say they have
no way to be sure if the bombing has stopped Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein's effort to build weapons of
mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them.
Relations are at a virtual standstill.
Senior Pentagon officials have given no indication
that there will be any change in policy soon.
Meantime, Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Said al-
Sahhaf is expected to urge Arab nations at an upcoming
meeting to help end the crippling economic sanctions
imposed after Baghdad's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and
the "No-fly" zones Iraq calls a violation of
international law.
This is the first time Iraq has led an Arab League
meeting since it sent tanks rumbling into Kuwait.
Kuwait and some other Gulf States will snub Iraq by
sending lower ranking officials to the meeting instead
of their foreign ministers.
Non-Arab nations also have Iraq on their diplomatic
agenda, as members of the U-N Security Council are
expected to meet to discuss sanctions, weapons and
other issues before the General Assembly convenes in
two weeks. (Signed).
NEB/JR/ENE/JO
10-Sep-1999 15:19 PM EDT (10-Sep-1999 1919 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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