Pentagon downplays Iraqi moves in no-fly zones

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon said Monday Iraq has moved a "handful" of missiles into the U.S.-imposed no-fly zones, but officials termed the action "episodic" and said it did not seem to represent a significant increase in the threat to U.S. and British planes.

The no-fly zones were set up by the United States and its Gulf War allies after the 1991 Persian Gulf War to deter the Iraqi air force from attacking rebels in the north and the south. Iraq does not recognize the zones and has vowed to fire at any plane that violates its airspace.

For years, Iraq has been defying the no-fly zones and has offered a bounty for any Iraqi gunner who shoots down an allied pilot.

Although the movement in recent days involved more missiles at one time than have been redeployed in a year or two, the overall number of missiles and related systems was small, less than six, one Pentagon official said.

"It's just a little more activity in the last couple of days than we have seen in the last couple of years. But we don't think it means anything more than what we've been seeing" before, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard Myers said at a Pentagon briefing.

"This is one of the things that we have seen over time, that in the no-fly zones there will be surface-to-air missiles moved in, moved around and moved out," Myers said.

So far this month, U.S. or British planes have been threatened four times by Iraqi missiles and have responded twice by dropping bombs or firing missiles, according to the Pentagon.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld likewise downplayed the significance of the moves, calling it typical of the "general behavior" of Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein.

"I don't notice that there's been a notable difference. He tends to move things around and do things that are inconsistent with the U.N. resolutions, and his rhetoric has historically been provocative and favoring terrorists."

In February 2001, the United States carried out airstrikes to degrade Iraq's air defenses, which were increasing in capability because of aid from a Chinese company helping to install a fiber optic network, ostensibly for telephone communications.

The Pentagon said the network was helping Iraq to link its radars and give Iraqi air defenses a better shot at allied planes.

After protests from Washington, the Chinese government said any such assistance would end. But Rumsfeld said Monday said he was not aware the pledge had been fulfilled.

Asked by a reporter, "Are the Chinese still helping Iraq?" Rumsfeld replied, "I don't know that they stopped."

Although the fiber optic network was still in place, Pentagon officials said its targeting sophistication apparently is not at a level that would indicate the radars were again being linked effectively.

"They have a very good fiber-optic system, I'll just leave it at that," Myers said.