DATE=8/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236646
TITLE=IRAQ / U-S TROOPS (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE A STRONG FORCE OF SHIPS,
PLANES AND MISSILES CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON IRAQ -- AND PENTAGON 
SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THAT FLEET CAN BE REINFORCED IN A SHORT 
TIME IF THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND BAGHDAD OVER 
BANNED WEAPONS BECOMES A CRISIS.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.

TEXT:  CURRENTLY THE UNITED STATES HAS MORE THAN 19-THOUSAND 
SAILORS, SOLDIERS, AND OTHER MILITARY PERSONNEL STATIONED NEAR 
IRAQ, ALONG WITH 167 AIRCRAFT AND 11 SHIPS, INCLUDING ONE 
AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN THE FORCE THAT FACED IRAQ 
DURING A TENSE PERIOD AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.  

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS IF MORE FORCE IS NEEDED, 
DETAILED PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO MOVE AIRCRAFT AND OTHER ASSETS TO 
THE GULF IN 48 HOURS. 

MR. BACON ALSO SAYS, THERE IS PLENTY OF FIREPOWER ALREADY IN 
PLACE TO PRESSURE IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN TO COMPLY WITH U-N 
RESOLUTIONS.  

                       /// BACON ACT  ///

         AFTER WE DREW DOWN THE FORCE EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE LEFT 
         BEHIND A MUCH LARGER COMPLIMENT OF TOMAHAWK CRUISE 
         MISSILES -- DOUBLE THE AMOUNT WE HAD THERE LAST YEAR.  
         WE THINK WE HAVE A VERY STRONG, READY FORCE -- READY, 
         ABLE TO DEFEND OUR INTERESTS, AND ABLE TO PUT PRESSURE 
         ON SADDAM HUSSEIN IF NECESSARY.

                         /// END ACT ///

/// OPT ///  TOMAHAWK MISSILES ARE ROBOT AIRCRAFT THAT ARE 
LAUNCHED FROM SHIPS OR SUBMARINES.  THEY CAN FLY TO TARGETS UP TO
16-HUNDRED KILOMETERS AWAY ON LAND AND STRIKE WITH GREAT 
ACCURACY.  /// END OPT ///

BAGHDAD PROMISED TO GET RID OF ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION 
AND THE MISSILES NEEDED TO CARRY THEM, AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT 
THAT STOPPED THE GULF WAR THAT FOLLOWED IRAQ'S INVASION OF 
KUWAIT.  

U-N OFFICIALS SAY SADDAM HUSSEIN IS BREAKING THOSE PROMISES NOW 
BY  NOT  ALLOWING U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO COMPLETE THE JOB OF 
FINDING AND DESTROYING THE BANNED WEAPONS IRAQ IS STILL THOUGHT 
TO HOLD.  

MEANTIME, PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY IRAQI FORCES APPEAR TO BE 
ENGAGED IN ROUTINE OPERATIONS.  THE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE  NOT 
SEEN IRAQI FORCES MAKE THEIR USUAL PREPARATIONS TO RESIST AN AIR 
ATTACK. (SIGNED).

NEB/JR/LTD /MMK

06-Aug-98 3:56 PM EDT (1956 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.