DATE=9/10/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ BOMBING
NUMBER=5-44240
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  U.S. warplanes bombed an air defense early 
warning center in northern Iraq Friday after coming 
under anti-aircraft fire.  The incident is typical of 
the frequent and continuing clashes between Allied 
planes and Iraqi air defenses over the past nine 
months.   Iraq is leading Sunday's Arab League meeting 
in Cairo and officials say Baghdad wants to put the 
rift between Iraq and the United States high on the 
agenda.  V-O-A's Jim Randle reports, the meeting 
follows unsuccessful efforts to gather key U-N members 
in Washington for talks on a new policy toward Iraq. 

TEXT: U-S officials say the latest incident follows a 
pattern of confrontation. Iraq anti-aircraft gunners 
fire their weapons at patrolling allied jets, which 
respond by firing precision guided bombs and missiles 
at Iraqi air defense facilities. 

U-S Air Force Major Mike Young, (speaking by phone 
from the Turkish air field where many of the Allied 
planes are based,) says whatever diplomatic efforts 
are underway, they have had  no  noticeable impact on 
the air operations patrolling the No-fly zones over 
Iraq.

            /// YOUNG ACT ///

      Its really been going on at about the same pace 
      for quite some time.  We seem to be getting a 
      good sampling of triple (anti-aircraft artillery 
      fire) response just about every mission we fly.  
      And that seems to be pretty much the norm, every 
      day we go out.  I would say the pace has not 
      really picked up, its been pretty steady.

            /// END ACT /// 

Allied planes patrol much of Iraq to keep Baghdad's 
planes and ground forces from attacking dissident 
groups in the North and South. The No-fly zones were 
instituted after the Gulf War but there were only 
occasion clashes until this year. 

In December, Iraq refused to allow U-N weapons experts 
to continue inspecting sites for banned germ, chemical 
or nuclear weapons.  British and American planes 
responded with a massive bombing campaign known as 
"Desert Fox." 

Since then, Iraqi gunners have stepped up their 
challenges to allied planes patrolling the "no-fly" 
zones and Baghdad refuses to allow U-N inspectors to 
resume their work.

With the inspectors gone, U-S officials say they have 
no way to be sure if the bombing has stopped Iraqi 
President Saddam Hussein's effort to build weapons of 
mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them.   

Relations are at a virtual standstill.

Senior Pentagon officials have given no indication 
that there will be any change in policy soon. 

Meantime, Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Said al-
Sahhaf is expected to urge Arab nations at an upcoming 
meeting to help end the crippling economic sanctions 
imposed after Baghdad's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and 
the "No-fly" zones Iraq calls a violation of 
international law.

This is the first time Iraq has led an Arab League 
meeting since it sent tanks rumbling into Kuwait.  
Kuwait and some other Gulf States will snub Iraq by 
sending lower ranking officials to the meeting instead 
of their foreign ministers.

Non-Arab nations also have Iraq on their diplomatic 
agenda, as members of the U-N Security Council are 
expected to meet to discuss sanctions, weapons and 
other issues before the General Assembly convenes in 
two weeks. (Signed). 

NEB/JR/ENE/JO



10-Sep-1999 15:19 PM EDT (10-Sep-1999 1919 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.