DATE=12/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243234
TITLE=BRITISH / IRAQ BRIEFING (L)
BYLINE=PAUL FRANCUCH
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  BRITAIN'S DEFENSE SECRETARY AND TOP MILITARY OFFICIAL 
HAVE BRIEFED REPORTERS IN LONDON ON MISSIONS FLOWN THURSDAY AND 
EARLY FRIDAY BY BRITISH FIGHTER-BOMBERS AGAINST TARGETS IN IRAQ. 
V-O-A'S PAUL FRANCUCH REPORTS THE MILITARY OFFICIALS REPORT THE 
MISSION WAS A SUCCESS.

TEXT:   DEFENSE SECRETARY GEORGE ROBERTSON SPOKE TO REPORTERS 
AFTER BRIEFING PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR AND OTHER TOP MILITARY 
AND CIVILIAN OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN THE IRAQI MISSION.  HE SAYS 12
"TORNADO" FIGHTER JETS SUCCESSFULLY FLEW THREE WAVES OF ATTACKS 
OVERNIGHT.  

                    ///  ROBERTSON ACT  /// 

         WE HAVE YET TO COMPLETE OUR FULL BATTLE DAMAGE 
         ASSESSMENTS, BUT INITIAL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE RAIDS 
         BY THE TORNADOES HAVE GONE WELL.  AS A RESULT OF THIS 
         PRECISION BOMBING, WE HAVE INFLICTED DAMAGE ON MILITARY 
         AIR DEFENSE SITES, ON SADDAM'S COMMAND AND CONTROL 
         NETWORKS AND ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN 
         GUARD.

                       ///  END ACT  /// 

MR. ROBERTSON SAYS MOST OF THE TARGETS HIT BY BRITISH JETS AND 
AMERICAN CRUISE MISSILES WERE OUTSIDE OF BAGHDAD.  HE SAYS IN 
ADDITION TO MILITARY COMMAND SITES, THE ATTACKS FOCUSED ON PLACES
SUSPECTED OF BEING USED TO MAKE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. 

BRITAIN'S CHIEF OF DEFENSE STAFF, GENERAL CHARLES GUTHRIE, 
EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE SITES BOMBED WILL REDUCE SADDAM 
HUSSEIN'S MILITARY CAPABILITIES.

                     ///  GUTHRIE ACT  /// 

         WE SELECT TARGETS WITH GREAT CARE.  WE'VE HAD EIGHT 
         YEARS SINCE THE GULF WAR IN WHICH TO IDENTIFY WHICH ARE 
         SADDAM'S MOST CRITICAL CAPABILITIES.  THE AIM IS  NOT  
         TO DESTROY HIS FORCES, BUT TO CRIPPLE THEM BY HITTING 
         THESE KEY POINTS.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

BRITAIN'S AIR ATTACKS LATE THURSDAY AND EARLY FRIDAY WERE THE 
FIRST IN THE OPERATION CODE-NAMED "DESERT FOX."  BOTH GENERAL 
GUTHRIE AND DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERTSON SAY THE MISSION HELPED 
FURTHER THE JOINT U-S / BRITISH MILITARY GOALS, BUT THEY ADDED 
THOSE GOALS HAVE  NOT  BEEN FULLY MET AND THAT FURTHER OPERATIONS
ARE PLANNED.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/PCF/JWH

18-Dec-98 8:44 AM EST (1344 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.