DATE=  10/9/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-221061

TITLE=U-S / IRAQ NO-FLY ZONE (L)

BYLINE=JIM MALONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:   U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN WARNED IRAQ THURSDAY

THAT ITS PILOTS WILL BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES IF THEY CONTINUE TO 

TEST THE NO-FLY ZONE IN SOUTHERN IRAQ PATROLLED BY THE UNITED 

STATES, BRITAIN AND FRANCE.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE HAS A

REPORT.



TEXT:  SECRETARY COHEN TOLD REPORTERS THAT IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM

HUSSEIN SEEMS INTENT ON TESTING THE NO-FLY ZONE. BUT MR. COHEN 

SAYS ANY CHALLENGE OF THE NO-FLY ZONE WILL POSE A RISK TO 

SADDAM'S PILOTS, ADDING THAT IF THEY MAKE A MISTAKE, THEY WILL 

HAVE TO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES.



AT A BRIEFING LATER ON, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAID THE 

UNITED STATES HAS BEEFED UP ITS PATROLS INSIDE THE NO-FLY ZONE 

AND THAT U-S PLANES ARE NOW FLYING FURTHER NORTH CLOSER TO THE 

33RD PARALLEL. HE ALSO SAID THAT A BATTLE GROUP LED BY THE 

AIRCRAFT CARRIER U-S-S NIMITZ WOULD ARRIVE IN THE REGION THIS 

WEEKEND.   



                       /// BACON ACT. ///



         I THINK WE HAVE SHOWN IN THE PAST THAT WE ARE PREPARED 

         TO PROTECT OUR INTERESTS AND TO ENFORCE THE NO-FLY ZONE.

         WE HAVE USED A VARIETY OF MILITARY ASSETS TO DO THAT. 

         AND I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.



                        /// END ACT. ///



ON TUESDAY, THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS STEPPING UP 

ITS AIR PATROLS IN THE NO FLY-ZONE IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL IRAQI 

VIOLATIONS. U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS SPEAKING ON BACKGROUND SAID TWO

IRAQI FIGHTERS ENTERED THE NO-FLY ZONE ON TUESDAY WITHOUT DRAWING

FIRE FROM ALLIED PLANES. THE NO-FLY ZONE WAS ESTABLISHED OVER 

SOUTHERN IRAQ AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR.



/// OPT /// PENTAGON SPOKESMAN BACON SAYS U-S FORCES IN THE AREA 

ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER CHALLENGES SADDAM HUSSEIN MAY 

THROW THEIR WAY. 



                       /// BACON ACT. ///



         THERE ARE A WHOLE SERIES OF THINGS THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN 

         HAS REFUSED TO DO. ALL OF WHICH WHEN ADDED TOGETHER, 

         EVEN BEFORE YOU GET TO THINGS LIKE SURGICAL NO-FLY ZONE 

         VIOLATIONS, SUGGEST THAT HE BEARS CONTINUED WATCHING AND

         THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN 

         DOING SINCE THE END OF THE GULF WAR AND WE WILL CONTINUE

         TO DO THAT.



                        /// END ACT. ///



                         /// END OPT ///



LAST WEEK, THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED IT WAS MOVING UP THE 

ARRIVAL OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER NIMITZ AS A SIGNAL THAT IT WAS 

SERIOUS ABOUT ENFORCING THE IRAQI NO-FLY ZONES. (SIGNED)



NEB/JBM/KL







09-Oct-97 3:31 PM EDT (1931 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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