DATE=12/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243312
TITLE=IRAQ ATTACK OVER (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS U-S LED AIR RAIDS AGAINST IRAQ 
HAVE ENDED, BUT COULD RESUME IF BAGHDAD REBUILDS ITS WEAPONS 
PROGRAMS.  SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE FOUR 
NIGHTS OF BOMBING SET BACK IRAQ'S PROGRAM TO PRODUCE WEAPONS OF 
MASS DESTRUCTION BY AT LEAST A YEAR.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS 
FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT:  THE TOP U-S GENERAL, HUGH SHELTON, SAYS U-S AND BRITISH 
PLANES FLEW 650 MISSIONS, AIMED AT ABOUT 100 IRAQI TARGETS.  
GENERAL SHELTON SAYS BOMBS AND MISSILES MISSED SOME TARGETS, BUT 
MOST WERE AT LEAST DAMAGED.

                       /// SHELTON ACT ///

         I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL COMBAT 
         OPERATIONS OF THE PAST FOUR DAYS HAVE DEGRADED SADDAM 
         HUSSEIN'S WEAPONS-OF-MASS-DESTRUCTION PROGRAMS, HIS 
         ABILITY TO DELIVER WEAPONS, AND HIS ABILITY TO THREATEN 
         THE SECURITY OF THIS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT REGION.

                         /// END ACT ///

"OPERATION DESERT FOX" BEGAN WHEN UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS 
CHARGED WITH GETTING RID OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION 
COMPLAINED THAT IRAQ WAS BLOCKING THEIR EFFORTS TO INSPECT 
SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES.  PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS IF THE WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS -- FROM THE GROUP KNOWN AS "UNSCOM" -- ARE AGAIN 
IMPEDED, MILITARY ACTION COULD RESUME.

                       /// CLINTON ACT ///

         BUT IF UNSCOM IS  NOT  ALLOWED TO RESUME ITS WORK ON A 
         REGULAR BASIS, WE WILL REMAIN VIGILANT AND PREPARED TO 
         USE FORCE IF WE SEE THAT IRAQ IS REBUILDING ITS WEAPONS 
         PROGRAM.

                         /// END ACT ///

DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN SAYS FACILITIES THAT PRODUCE CHEMICAL OR 
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS WERE PRIORITY TARGETS, AS WERE THE SPECIAL 
REPUBLICAN GUARD UNITS THAT HIDE AND PROTECT THE BANNED 
MUNITIONS.

A TOP INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL SAYS A MAJORITY OF THESE TARGETS WERE
HIT, AND SOME WERE SERIOUSLY DAMAGED.  THE OFFICIAL SAYS AIR 
DEFENSES WERE ELUSIVE TARGETS.  THIRTY-TWO IRAQI AIR-DEFENSE 
FACILITIES WERE TARGETED, BUT OFFICIALS SAY LESS THAN HALF ARE 
KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN HIT.  MR. COHEN SAYS  NO  BRITISH OR AMERICAN 
PLANES OR CREWS WERE LOST IN OPERATION DESERT FOX.   (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/WTW

19-Dec-98 7:58 PM EST (0058 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.