DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243188
TITLE=IRAQ ATTACK SITREP (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE TOP U-S GENERAL, HUGH SHELTON, SAYS AMERICAN AND 
BRITISH WARPLANES ARE STRIKING IRAQ FOR A SECOND-NIGHT.  DEFENSE 
SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE BOMBS AND MISSILES ARE AIMED AT 
IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE 
REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS SAY THIS WAVE OF 
ATTACKS IS LIKELY TO INCLUDE A BARRAGE OF CRUISE MISSILES FROM 
U-S HEAVY BOMBERS.

TEXT:  SECRETARY COHEN SAYS THE INITIAL RAIDS HIT MORE THAN 50 
TARGETS IN IRAQ, AND ARE DESIGNED TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR MORE 
ATTACKS ON PLACES WHERE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION MAY BE 
HIDDEN.

MORE THAN 200 CRUISE MISSILES WERE FIRED FROM NAVY SHIPS, AND 70 
STRIKE AIR CRAFT WERE LAUNCHED FROM AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND LAND 
BASES.

                       /// COHEN ACT /// 

         OUR TARGETS INCLUDE IRAQ'S AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM, ITS 
         COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM, AIR FIELDS, AND OTHER 
         MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES.  ONE THING 
         SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, WE ARE CONCENTRATING ON 
         MILITARY TARGETS, WE ARE NOT ATTACKING THE PEOPLE OF 
         IRAQ.  WE HAVE NO DESIRE TO INCREASE THE SUFFERING 
         SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS IMPOSED ON HIS PEOPLE. 

                         /// END ACT ///

GENERAL SHELTON SAYS, IRAQI AIRCRAFT HAVE NOT TRIED TO STOP THE 
MASSIVE ATTACKS.  HE SHOWED REPORTERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF 
TARGETS IN IRAQ BEFORE AND AFTER THE RAIDS.  HE SAYS A GROUP OF 
BUILDINGS HOUSING IRAQ'S REPUBLICAN GUARD WAS HIT HARD.

                      /// SHELTON ACT /// 

         HERE ARE THEIR BARRACKS, SHOWN IN THIS AREA, AREA ONE, 
         BEFORE THE STRIKE ALONG WITH THE HEADQUARTERS AREA.  YOU
         SEE OVER HERE THAT THIS HEADQUARTERS IS NOW RUBBLE. 

                        /// END ACT /// 

SECRETARY COHEN SAYS EVEN WHEN THE SCHEDULED AIR RAIDS ARE 
FINISHED, THE UNITED STATES WILL TRY TO "CONTAIN" IRAQ, UNTIL AND
UNLESS SADDAM HUSSEIN KEEPS PROMISES TO GET RID OF WEAPONS OF 
MASS DESTRUCTION AND ALLOW U-N EXPERTS TO VERIFY THE CLAIM.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

17-Dec-98 3:17 PM EST (2017 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.