Clinton Says 'Mission Accomplished'

 


 By Linda D. Kozaryn

 
American Forces Press Service




 WASHINGTON - Service members in the Persian Gulf did "a 
 difficult job with skill, dedication and determination," 
 President Clinton said at the White House Dec. 19, the last 
 day of Operation Desert Fox.

 Based on preliminary national security briefings, the 
 president said the 70-hour air strike campaign against 
 Iraqi military targets had achieved its mission. "We have 
 inflicted significant damage on Saddam's weapons of mass 
 destruction programs, on the command structures that direct 
 and protect that capability, and on his military and 
 security infrastructure," he reported.

 During waves of attacks over four nights, U.S. and British 
 forces hit Iraq's air defense and command and control 
 systems, security forces and military infrastructure, and 
 the industrial base used to sustain and deliver deadly 
 weapons. Eight Tomahawk capable Navy ships fired hundreds 
 of cruise missiles into Iraq. Air Force and Navy fighters 
 and bombers hammered targets throughout the length and 
 breadth of the Gulf state.

 Pentagon officials said initial damage reports and 
 satellite photos indicated the strikes caused significant 
 dammage to airfields, electronics plants, Republican Guard 
 barracks, missile repair facilities and numerous other 
 targets. Defense officials estimate Hussein's missile 
 program, for example, has been set back by at least a year. 

 Overall, Clinton deemed the operation well planned and 
 executed. He pointed out, however, that even though the 
 strikes have ceased, the conflict with Iraq is not over. As 
 long as Hussein is in power, the president said, he remains 
 a threat to the world. Therefore, the United States will 
 continue it's strategy of containing Hussein and 
 constraining his military capabilities.

 
 The United States will maintain a strong military presence 
 in the Gulf. U.S. forces will act if Hussein tries to 
 rebuild Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program, 
 threaten neighbors, challenge allied aircraft or move 
 against the Kurds, Clinton said. Allied aircraft will 
 continue enforcing the no-fly zones over North and South 
 Iraq. 

 The United States will sustain economic sanctions imposed 
 against Iraq by the United Nations. "To date, they have 
 cost Saddam more than $120 billion, resources that 
 otherwise would have gone toward rebuilding his military," 
 Clinton said. 

 The United States will continue supporting the oil-for-food 
 program which generates more than $10 billion a year for 
 food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies, Clinton 
 added. "We will insist that Iraq's oil be used for food, 
 not tanks," he said.

 The United States would like to see U.N. weapons inspectors 
 return to Iraq, providing the Iraqis take "concrete, 
 affirmative and demonstrable actions" to show full 
 cooperation, Clinton said.

 The United States also will support Iraqi opposition groups 
 by working with Radio Free Iraq. "We will stand ready to 
 help a new leadership in Baghdad that abides by its 
 international commitments and respects the rights of its 
 own people," Clinton said. "We hope it will return Iraq to 
 its rightful place in the community of nations."

 Related Site of Interest:

 

 Operation Desert Fox