DATE=  11/4/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222174

TITLE=IRAQ'S MILITARY (REVISED)

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO: BAGHDAD IS THREATENING TO SHOOT DOWN AMERICAN SPY PLANES 

THAT  FLY OVER IRAQ AS PART OF THE U-N SEARCH FOR WEAPONS OF MASS

DESTRUCTION.  PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE NEXT U-2 FLIGHT IS 

SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, AND THEY TAKE THE IRAQI THREAT SERIOUSLY.

FROM THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE HAS A LOOK AT 

IRAQ'S MILITARY CAPABILITY.



TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE U-2'S -- WHICH ARE ARMED ONLY 

WITH CAMERAS --   FLY 18-THOUSAND METERS OR MORE ABOVE THE 

GROUND. EIGHTEEN THOUSAND METERS IS JUST ABOUT AS HIGH AS IRAQI 

S-A-2 ANTI AIRCRAFT MISSILES CAN REACH, SO OFFICIALS HERE SAY IT 

IS POSSIBLE, BUT DIFFICULT, FOR IRAQ TO HIT ONE OF THE 

HIGH-FLYING PLANES. 



IRAQ IS THOUGHT TO STILL HAVE A VARIETY OF FRENCH AND SOVIET-MADE

ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES, AND ABOUT SIX-THOUSAND ANTI-AIRCRAFT 

CANNON.



IRAQ'S AIR FORCE HAS ABOUT 150 HELICOPTERS AND 180 FIGHTER 

PLANES, BUT A NEW REPORT BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR 

STRATEGIC STUDIES SAYS ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THOSE AIRCRAFT ARE 

READY TO FLY AND FIGHT. 



FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, LAWRENCE KORB SAYS IRAQ'S 

AIR FORCE IS NOT VERY EFFECTIVE.



                     /// KORB ACT   015 ///



         I THINK YOU WOULD BE IN MUCH MORE DANGER FROM THE IRAQI 

         ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE AND IRAQI SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES, 

         THAN YOU WOULD THEIR PLANES. THEIR PLANES ARE OLD, THEIR

         PILOTS ARE NOT VERY COMBAT-HARDENED, AND IF WE SEND IN 

         OUR HIGH PERFORMANCE PLANES, I THINK THEY WOULD WIN THE 

         DAY.



                         /// END ACT  //



EVEN AFTER ITS HUGE LOSSES IN THE GULF WAR, IRAQ STILL HAS 

SUBSTANTIAL MILITARY FORCES.  ONLY A MINORITY OF IRAQ'S MILITARY 

IS DEDICATED TO AIR DEFENSE. 



THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES SAYS IRAQ HAS 

MORE THAN 387-THOUSAND PEOPLE ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY AND MORE IN

RESERVE. THE JUST-PUBLISHED JOURNAL SAYS THE NATION STILL HAS 

27-HUNDRED TANKS, THOUSANDS MORE ASSORTED ARMORED VEHICLES AND 

ABOUT 2-THOUSAND PIECES OF ARTILLERY.  



MR. KORB OF WASHINGTON'S PRESTIGIOUS "BROOKING INSTITUTION" SAYS 

SADDAM HUSSEIN'S ELITE "REPUBLICAN GUARD" GROUND UNITS ARE STILL 

REASONABLY COMBAT-READY, BUT HE QUESTIONS THEIR WILL TO FIGHT.



BUT MR KORB SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN IS WAGING A POLITICAL BATTLE MORE

THAN A MILITARY ONE, WITH THE GOAL OF SPLITTING THE UNITED STATES

FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS.



SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN SAYS IT WON'T WORK.



                     /// COHEN ACT 082  ///



         I THINK, HOPE ON THE PART OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, SPRINGS 

         ETERNAL, THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO DIVIDE THE UNITED 

         NATIONS ON THIS ISSUE.  THE UNITED NATIONS IS UNITED AND

         REMAINS UNITED THAT HE MUST FULLY COMPLY, WITH THE 

         SANCTIONS AND ALLOW INSPECTION TO GO FORWARD.



                        /// END ACT  /// 



U-S OFFICIALS SAY A BIT OVER TWO-HUNDRED U-S PLANES AND 

HELICOPTERS ARE LOCATED ON SHIPS OR BASES CLOSE ENOUGH TO STRIKE 

DEEP INTO IRAQ.  AND THEY NOTE NAVY SHIPS AND AIR FORCE HEAVY 

BOMBERS CAN LAUNCH CRUISE MISSILES TO STRIKE TARGETS ANYWHERE IN 

IRAQ.  (SIGNED)



NEB/JR/EH



04-Nov-97 4:34 PM EST (2134 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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