Iraq backs down on threat against allied planes

Sources: No U.S. strike on Iraq likely until next week

September 13, 1996
Web posted at: 3:00 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As stealth fighter-bombers arrived in Kuwait Friday, President Clinton's top advisers met at the White House to discuss when and how to strike at Iraq. Sources said it appeared the attack, if it comes, would not occur until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Iraq, meantime, appeared to back down from a confrontation by announcing Friday it will no longer fire at U.S. and allied warplanes enforcing no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq.

Iraq said it would halt its attacks on U.S. and allied warplanes flying over its north and south as of midnight local time (2000 GMT), the Iraqi News Agency (INA) said, quoting an official spokesman for the ruling Revolutionary Command Council.

Iraq credits Russians

In Baghdad, Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz told CNN's Peter Arnett the reason for the Iraqi move was a Russian initiative asking Baghdad to suspend firing on allied aircraft. He said the suspension was temporary, and that it is up to the United States to respond.

Aziz said the decision does not mean that Iraq is giving up its legal claim under international law that the no-fly zones are illegal.

U.S. responds

At the White House, press secretary Mike McCurry, asked about the Iraqi announcement said, "Actions speak louder than words," indicating the administration would wait to see what Saddam Hussein does.

A Pentagon spokesman, Ken Bacon, said Iraq's decision was a wise move if it is true, but the U.S. would wait and see. He also said it was a good first step in defusing tension in the region.

The United States is "going to keep Saddam guessing" about possible military action, said State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns.

Earlier in the day, a source told CNN's Steve Hurst that plans for a new U.S. military offensive this weekend were being reconsidered. "It's a little up in the air right now," the source said.

No decision

No decision has been made on when or how to strike Iraq, a senior military source directly involved in the U.S. planning told CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre. But pulling back from the current U.S. course of action is "not part of the strategy," the source said.

At Friday's White House meeting, Chief of Staff Leon Panetta met with Secretary of State Warren Christopher, National Security Adviser Anthony Lake, and Secretary of Defense William Perry, as well as CIA Director John Deutch and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. John Shalikashvili.

Explaining U.S. policy

According to another top military source, Clinton administration personnel will make an effort over the weekend -- including appearances on Sunday talk shows -- to explain to the American people why another strike against Iraq is justified.

The United States will also continue consultations with reluctant U.S. allies to get them "on board" with U.S. plans for military action. Perry will be dispatched in an attempt to rally the frayed anti-Iraq coalition formed by the Bush administration after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990.

Many of America's Gulf War allies support U.S. policy on Iraq, even if they are not willing to say so publicly, Senator Sam Nunn, D-Georgia, told CNN's Charles Bierbauer on Friday. (14 sec./160K AIFF or WAV sound) "It would be more comforting if they (supported) us, but in the long term we have to look beyond Saddam Hussein and have a Kurdish policy that makes sense over the long haul."

The administration's combination strategy -- public relations and consultation -- appears to suggest that next week is the mostly likely time for a new strike to occur. One military source says the options drawn up by military planners lean toward a bombing campaign that would last several days, targeting Iraqi mobile missiles, air defense sites, and command and communications facilities. Both F-117 "stealth" fighter-bombers and cruise missiles would take part in such attacks, the source said.

Firepower in place

Eight F-117 stealth fighter-bombers arrived at Al-Jaber Air Base near Kuwait City Friday after a 20-hour flight from Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.

In addition, sources said more F-16 fighter jets are either in Kuwait or on their way. The F-16s are from Moody AFB in Georgia. They were due to relieve other jets already in the area that will now stay.

The F-16s are equipped with anti-radar HARM missiles that can counter Iraqi anti-aircraft missiles.

The USS Enterprise will join the USS Carl Vinson, already in the Gulf. The Enterprise, carrying about 75 aircraft, including F-14 and F-18 fighter jets, is sailing through the Suez Canal and Red Sea on its way to the Persian Gulf.

Four B-52 bombers capable of firing cruise missiles have also been sent closer to the region. They are based on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

The new forces will complement a force of 250 land- and sea- based aircraft and 21 warships already in the Persian Gulf.

Republicans feeling left out

Republicans complained they were being left out of the decision-making process. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi (12 sec./128K AIFF or WAV sound) and Representative Curt Weldon of Pennsylvania (9 sec./128K AIFF or WAV sound),, charged Thursday the Clinton administration needs to improve communications with Capitol Hill.

"Don't expect us to jump in line because the president decides to take another swipe," Lott said.

In the House Thursday, Republican leaders, insisting the administration has left them uninformed, continued to block consideration of a Senate-passed resolution supporting U.S. troops in the Gulf.

Baker, Powell speak

Separately, former Bush administration Secretary of State James Baker offered his own advice. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday, Baker said the Clinton administration should have hit Iraq harder than it did last week when 44 cruise missiles were fired on Iraqi air defenses in southern Iraq in response to the Iraqi army's attack on Kurdish rebels in the North.

Both Baker and retired Gen. Colin Powell, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War, faulted Clinton for not maintaining better relations with anti-Iraq coalition partners. But Powell, speaking in Madison, New Jersey, said the alliance was still strong enough to assure that Iraq poses no threat to neighboring countries.

Correspondents Jamie McIntyre and Steve Hurst and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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