DATE=9/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S/IRAQ (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266413
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
INTRO: U-S Defense Department officials say they have
stepped up their surveillance of Iraqi military
activities. From the Pentagon, V-O-A Correspondent
Alex Belida explains why.
TEXT: Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon says U-S
forces in the Gulf region have not seen any unusual
Iraqi troop buildups or maneuvers.
But Mr. Bacon tells reporters there is genuine reason
for concern and that is why surveillance activities
have been increased.
//BACON ACTUALITY //
August, September and October tend to be the
times when Saddam Hussein historically has
either decided to attack his neighbors or attack
his own people.
// END ACTUALITY //
While the number of patrols and other monitoring
activities have been increased, Mr. Bacon says there
has been no increase in the overall number of U-S
forces in the Gulf. Defense Department officials say
there are currently some 20 thousand Americans in the
region, mainly Air Force and Navy personnel.
Mr. Bacon says Iraq's armed forces have been severely
degraded since the 1991 Gulf war.
Still, the spokesman sidesteps a question about
whether Iraq poses any kind of a real military threat
- saying only that the main challenge Saddam Hussein
would face in waging war against his neighbors is the
continued presence of U-S and other allied forces in
the area. (Signed)
NEB/BEL/PT
12-Sep-2000 16:42 PM EDT (12-Sep-2000 2042 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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