Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE= 9/17/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= PENTAGON / WAR (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-294162

BYLINE= ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE= PENTAGON

CONTENT=

INTRO: A senior U-S military commander is warning that combat will be a problem in a country like Iraq with suspected chemical and biological weapons. More from V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida at the Pentagon.

TEXT: Army General William Kernan (eds: Kur-NAN) was not talking specifically about Iraq.

But during a briefing for Pentagon reporters (Tuesday), the Commander of the U-S Joint Forces Command reflected the military's deep concerns about going into any potential combat environment where an opponent might have chemical or biological weapons.

General Kernan says intelligence will be the key --- otherwise he says civilians and soldiers alike could suffer.

///KERNAN ACTUALITY///

Obviously a lot of this is linked to precise intelligence -- knowing precisely what is there, knowing what it is that we can target. How can we isolate the area? How can we attack it? How can we minimize collateral damage? What type of weapons systems will we use?

/// END ACTUALITY ///

The General says deeply buried underground targets pose a major challenge. He does not elaborate but other defense officials have said Iraq has underground bunkers where its chemical and biological agents could be stored.

The Pentagon is exploring new ways of attacking such underground sites. One idea under study is a deep-penetrating bomb designed not to blow up a target but to seal it off with an impenetrable substance. The aim would be to minimize the chance of spreading poisonous gas or germs --- something that could threaten soldiers and civilians alike.

/// OPT /// Following the 1991 gulf war some coalition soldiers complained of lasting health problems they attributed to being down wind from the demolition of chemical weapons stockpiles that were blown up after the conflict. /// END OPT ///

General Kernan says not knowing what chemical and biological weapons might be stored in an underground bunker also poses a serious challenge. He says if the wrong weapon is chosen to go after a target about which the intelligence is incomplete, there could be casualties.

///KERNAN ACTUALITY///

If you get it wrong, there are an awful lot of people that are going to get hurt.

///END ACTUALITY///

The General voices similar concerns about the prospects of urban fighting -- something that could happen in a city like Baghdad if U-S forces invade Iraq.

Again, he makes no specific mention of Iraq but acknowledges U-S forces lose a lot of their high-tech advantages in street fighting. He calls it perhaps the most restrictive and most complex environment in which American troops may have to fight. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/KBK