DATE=  11/18/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222885

TITLE=U-S/IRAQ MILITARY BUILDUP (L)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:   U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY IRAQ'S AIR DEFENSES ARE ON THE

HIGHEST STATE OF ALERT AND THAT PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS BEEN

EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN MOVING AROUND SURFACE TO AIR MISSILE 

BATTERIES. THE UNITED STATES IS SENDING MORE AIR POWER TO THE 

GULF IN RESPONSE TO WHAT THE PENTAGON CALLS AN INCREASINGLY 

THREATENING SITUATION FOR ALLIED PILOTS ENFORCING IRAQ'S NO FLY 

ZONES.  MORE FROM  V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE AT THE 

PENTAGON.



TEXT:   ADDING TO AN ALREADY GROWING U-S MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE

GULF WILL SOON BE MORE F-117 STEALTH FIGHTER JETS AND LONG RANGE 

B-52 BOMBERS.  DURING THE GULF WAR SIX YEARS AGO, THE 

RADAR-EVADING F-117 BECAME THE ONLY WARPLANE TO BOMB STRATEGIC 

TARGETS IN BAGHDAD WITHOUT BEING HIT BY ENEMY FIRE.  



IN ALL, AS MANY AS 45 ADDITIONAL U-S MILITARY PLANES COULD BE 

SENT TO THE REGION IF THE COMMANDER OF U-S FORCES IN THE MIDDLE 

EAST DEEMS IT NECESSARY.  



// OPT // THE ADDED AIR POWER WOULD PUSH TO MORE THAN 300 THE 

NUMBER OF U-S MILITARY AIRCRAFT IN THE GULF REGION AND WOULD 

ALLOW THE UNITED STATES TO HIT IRAQ HARD -- AND FOR A SUSTAINED 

PERIOD OF TIME -- IF PRESIDENT CLINTON OR THE UNITED NATIONS 

ORDERS SUCH STRIKES.  ANOTHER U-S AIRCRAFT CARRIER BATTLE GROUP 

SHOULD BE IN THE GULF IN A FEW DAYS AS WELL, WHERE IT WILL JOIN 

THE U-S-S NIMITZ. // END OPT // 



PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE DECISION TO INCREASE U-S 

AIR ASSETS IS LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO STEPPED-UP ACTIVITY BY 

IRAQ'S SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES, ESPECIALLY IN AND AROUND THE 

COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN NO FLY ZONE. 



                       /// BACON ACT ///



         WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS EXTREMELY ACTIVE ACTIVITY BY HIS 

         (SADDAM HUSSEIN'S) AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM.  THE AIR DEFENSE 

         SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY ON A HIGHER STATE OF ALERT TODAY THAN

         IT WAS BEFORE HE INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990. 



                      /// END ACT ///



U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS BELIEVE SOME OF THIS MOVEMENT IS DEFENSIVE,

DESIGNED TO PROTECT MISSILES FROM A FEARED U-S ATTACK. BUT 

SPOKESMAN BACON ALSO SUGGESTED IRAQ MAY BE TRYING TO SET A TRAP 

FOR ALLIED AIRCRAFT.  



                           /// SECOND OPT  ACT ///



         GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN, THE ACTIVE REDEPLOYMENT OF HIS 

         AIR DEFENSES, THE HIGH STATE OF ALERT, WE THINK THAT HE 

         (SADDAM) IS INTERESTED IN MUCH MORE THAN DIPLOMACY, THAT

         HE HAS ULTERIOR MOTIVES TO MOVING THESE AROUND AND WE 

         NEED TO BE PREPARED. SO WE ARE FOLLOWING AGGRESSIVELY, 

         AGGRESSIVELY WITH DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THIS 

         PROBLEM.  



                           /// END ACT ///



WHEN IRAQ MOVED ITS MISSILES FOUR YEARS AGO, IT PROMPTED A 

MILITARY STRIKE BY THE UNITED STATES, SOMETHING THE PENTAGON 

AGAIN REFUSES TO RULE OUT. (SIGNED)



 NEB/NJS/PT







18-Nov-97 5:54 PM EST (2254 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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