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Coalition forces strike with 'greater flexibility'

Released: 2 Mar 1999

WASHINGTON -- The same day they struck Iraqi targets in the largest attack since the end of Operation Desert Fox, coalition forces now have "greater flexibility to attack those systems which place them in jeopardy," the secretary of defense said.

William S. Cohen's remarks at the Pentagon came just hours after Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped more than 30 2,000-pound and 500-pound laser-guided bombs on Iraqi communications, radio relay and anti-aircraft artillery sites.

The secretary of defense said the wider latitude to strike against threats will give coalition aircrews greater protection against the web of ground threats arrayed by Saddam Hussein's forces, including anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles.

"They are not simply going to respond to an AAA site or to a SAM site," Cohen said. "They can go after command-and-control, communications centers as well, that allow Saddam Hussein to try to target them and put them in jeopardy."

Amid reports that this and an earlier coalition strike might have damaged a pipeline carrying oil from Iraq to Turkey, the secretary said civilian sites were not targeted.

"We did in fact target a communications facility, which may or may not have interrupted the flow of oil temporarily going into Turkey," Cohen said. "But we believe the target itself was one that was used for communication purposes to their military.

"I might point out, contrary to the Iraqi claims about this jeopardizing the Oil for Food program, that the United Nations itself has pointed out that there are some $275 million in food and medicine and supplies which are stored in Iraqi warehouses that are not being distributed to the people, to the Iraqi people," Cohen said. "That is the responsibility and obligation that falls squarely on the shoulders of Saddam Hussein."

The secretary also said that, in contrast to widespread broadcast of coalition fighters' gun camera video in January, defense officials have refused to make any recent releases, to protect airmen from being targeted on the ground. Cohen said such videos could provide information to the enemy.

"I don't have any intention of providing Saddam Hussein with any information that would increase his ability to do that which he seeks to do," Cohen said. "He has a bounty on our pilots at this point. I don't want to give any information to him that would help him achieve his goal of attacking successfully our pilots as they're carrying out their responsibilities."

Those responsibilities, Cohen added, could continue through the forseeable future. Enforcement of the no-fly zones "will take place as long as Saddam Hussein refuses to comply with the U.N. resolutions.

"There's only one person responsible for whatever is taking place in Iraq today, and that is Saddam Hussein's refusal to comply with the U.N. Security Council resolutions," Cohen said.

"If there is full compliance, then there will be an end to the enforcement of the no-fly zones and enforcement of the sanctions. Until such time as he agrees to fully comply, then we're going to continue to enforce the obligations."