White House Spokesman on Iraq Airstrikes

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Leon, Mexico)

February 16, 2001

REMARKS BY ARI FLEISCHER IN Q&A WITH THE TRAVEL POOL

Rancho San Cristobol
San Cristobol, Mexico

1:36 P.M. (L)

MR. FLEISCHER: Since 1991, coalition aircraft have been enforcing the
no-fly zone in Iraq. Today allied armed forces conducted a routine
strike associated with enforcement of the no-fly zone. Coalition
aircraft struck targets that were instrumental in providing air
defenses that threaten coalition aircraft that were on patrol in the
southern no-fly zone.

The President authorized the strike because of the risk posed to our
aircraft. All coalition aircraft have returned safely.

Q: Was this planned, Ari, or was this a spontaneous --

MR. FLEISCHER: The President authorized it yesterday.

Q: When did he authorize it?

MR. FLEISCHER: Yesterday.

Q: Did something happen to provoke this, Ari, did some incident happen
to provoke this?

MR. FLEISCHER: It was the existence of radar facilities that posed a
threat to our aircraft, that identified our aircraft. There is a
simultaneous briefing going on at the Pentagon as we speak. The
Pentagon is briefing at 2:30 p.m. and will provide additional detailed
information about the strikes and about the targets.

Q: For the President to have specifically approved it indicates it's
more than just a routine thing, though, because rules of engagement --

MR. FLEISCHER: No, it is routine. In this case, the aircraft would be
on patrol in the southern no-fly zone, and that's why it required the
President's authorization. That has happened before; that is,
unfortunately, routine.

Q: Do we know whether these were newly-constructed radar?

MR. FLEISCHER: DOD will be taking that.

Q: How was Bush informed today? Was there a note slipped to him in his
meetings?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President authorized the strike and so he knew, of
course, about what would result.

Q: Yes, but wasn't he notified inside that the strike did take place?

MR. FLEISCHER: He was notified.

Q: By a piece of paper being slipped to him?

MR. FLEISCHER: A routine notification - whether it was paper or --

Q: Anymore strikes planned, or is this a --

MR. FLEISCHER: We don't discuss that type of information.

Q: When was he informed today that it had happened?

MR. FLEISCHER: He authorized it yesterday morning and he was informed
this afternoon.

Q: Did it interrupt the talks going on with President Fox, or when did
it --

MR. FLEISCHER: The President, of course, since he authorized it, knew
that it was going to happen.

Q: How does he feel this affects the feel of this summit? I mean, does
it ruin the good feeling that we've had in Mexico?

MR. FLEISCHER: It was a routine enforcement and it was part of
protecting a coalition in Iraq.

Q: You wouldn't say there is a message being sent here to Saddam
Hussein or any other --

MR. FLEISCHER: The President has always said that he takes seriously
our responsibility to protect our coalition allies and to enforce the
no-fly zone.

Thank you, everybody.