CNN
BUSH ATTACKED IRAQ FEBRUARY 17, 2001
Thu Sep 19 20:09:01 2002
208.152.73.11

Bush: Iraq strikes part of 'strategy'

February 17, 2001
Web posted at: 1:59 a.m. EST (0659 GMT)


Targets 'threaten our forces'

Bush: Ground commanders called strike All aircraft returned safely

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S.
President George W. Bush called Friday's attack on Iraqi radar sites "a
routine mission to enforce the no-fly zone."

United States and British warplanes attacked five Iraqi anti-aircraft radar
control sites around Baghdad and 20 other radar installations, Pentagon sources said.

The 24-aircraft mission was the first against targets outside the southern no-fly
zone in two years, but White House officials said it did not indicate an escalation
in attacks against Iraq.

Iraq released a statement condemning the attack
and said it was carried out by the United States
and Israel and is the prelude to a holy war.

"The aggression of this night, the 16th of
February, came to confirm that America was
planning and working hand in hand with the
Zionist entity," the statement said.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was said to be in
an emergency meeting with the ruling Baath Party
and the Revolutionary Command Council.

Iraqi television said two people were killed in the
attack and showed pictures of other injured
civilians, including children, in a hospital.

Bush on a one-day visit to Mexico, said the
missions to enforce the no-fly zones are "part of a
strategy, and until that strategy is changed, if it is
changed, we will continue to enforce them."
(More on no-fly zones)

Bush added that the United States fully expects
Hussein to adhere to agreements he signed after
Operation Desert Storm 10 years ago.

"Our intention is to make sure that the world is as
peaceful as possible and we're going to watch
very carefully as to whether he develops weapons
of mass destruction," Bush said. "If we catch him
doing so, we're going to take appropriate action."

The White House said missile attacks against Iraqi
military command and control centers south of
Baghdad on Friday did not "represent an
escalation in attacks against Iraq or a change in
policy."

Targets 'threaten our forces'

An administration official told CNN that the White
House views the attacks as consistent with U.S.
policy established at the end of the Persian Gulf
war.

"The targets were struck pursuant to existing
policy in place since 1991," the official said. "The
policy allows the U.S. to take out assets that
threaten our forces. The president was aware of
and approved the action. We have hit targets that
constituted a threat to our forces, but this does
not represent an escalation in our activity against
Iraq or a change in policy."

The operation was prompted by an "increased
threat to our aircraft and our crew," Marine
Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold said at a
Pentagon news conference.

A spokesman for the British Minitry of defense
told CNN that Iraq has launched more attacks
aginst allied planes patrolling the no-fly zone in the
month of January of 2001 than it did in the whole
of the year 2000.

It marks the first time since Operation Desert Fox
in 1998 that the allies have struck targets outside
the no-fly zone, in this case north of the 33rd
parallel. The no-fly zones are bands running
across Iraq that are bordered by the 33rd parallel
in the south and 36th parallel in the north.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld issued a
written statement on the attacks on Iraq.

"The objective of today's mission by coalition
forces was to degrade Iraqi air defense
capabilities and thus reduce the threat posed to
coalition aircraft and aircrews," The statement
said.



"The specifics of the mission were planned by the
military commander in the field, and were
presented to and approved by the national
command authorities. The administration intends
to enforce the no-fly zones in Iraq and will take
appropriate steps to reduce the threats to coalition
forces engaged in this mission," Rumsfeld's
statement said. (More on the mission)

Bush: Ground commanders called strike

Bush authorized the attack on Thursday, CNN Senior White House
Correspondent John King reported.

Bush said the decision to attack was made by military commanders in the region.

"Commanders on the ground rightly make the decision how to enforce the no-fly
zone," Bush said at a press conference in Mexico, where he was meeting with
President Vicente Fox. "Some of the missions require the commander in chief to
be informed. This was one of them."

Asked whether he approved of the strike on Iraq, Fox said, "I do not have a
position or statement at this time. That will be done through the Foreign Ministry
in the future."

All aircraft returned safely

U.S. sources confirmed that at least six British aircraft participated in the attacks.
All planes involved in the attack returned safely, Newbold said. (More on British
participation)

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Tony Blair was apprised of the strikes,
but it was the Minister of Defense Geoff Hune who authorized the strike,
according to British government sources.

CNN correspondents Jamie McIntyre at the Pentagon and Jane Arraf in Baghdad
and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• UK joins Baghdad strike - February 16, 2001 — CNN WORLD, Thu Sep 19 23:42
• CHENEY: WE ARE ALREADY BOMBING IRAQ... — nelson waller, Thu Sep 19 20:53