Iraq's upgraded air defenses now threaten U.S. warplanes

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is quietly acknowledging that Iraq has improved its air defenses to a point where their missiles are threatening U.S. and British warplanes.

Since the 1991 Gulf war, U.S. and British fighter-jets have flown over northern and southern Iraq to enforce no-fly zones. Over the last three years, Baghdad has recruited Russian and Ukrainian help to upgrade Iraqi air defense batteries, Middle East Newsline reported.

U.S. officials said Iraq has increased both the amount and capability of its air defense systems. The upgrades include those of the Roland air defense system by France as well as the surface-to-air missile batteries from the former East Bloc.

The Iraqis have deployed the improved air defense systems for more than a year, the officials said. But over the last few weeks, they have begun demonstrating their prowess, largely through the deployment of the SA-6 missile.

These missiles were presented during the Dec. 31 Iraqi military parade in Baghdad. The Pentagon assesses that Iraq has at least several dozen SA-6 batteries.

Officials said the new Iraqi capability will require a U.S. review of the enforcement of no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq. This will include the choice of targets by U.S. and British warplanes.

Britain has also urged Bush to review policy toward Baghdad and increase the effectiveness of flights over Iraq. Britain is the last of Washington's allies from the 1991 Gulf war still committed to enforcing the no-fly zones.

President George Bush has been urged to make the Defense Department the lead agency on U.S. policy toward Iraq. This policy would focus on preventing Iraq from developing weapons of mass destruction, an effort that could be facilitated by the increase in international flights to Baghdad.

"There's no question but that Saddam Hussein and his regime have had an enormous appetite for nuclear, chemical and biological weapons over a sustained period of time," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said. "The United States certainly is able to determine some things with respect to what's taking place in the country. You can begin with the correct assumption that he has a very strong desire to have all of those capabilities. Indeed, we know he's had the continued effort with respect to the development of ballistic missiles."

Rumsfeld said the Iraq weapons of mass destruction program will be discussed with Arab allies of the United States during the visit of Secretary of State Colin Powell, which begins on Feb. 23. Rumsfeld stressed that he and Powell were not in disagreement over U.S. policy toward Baghdad.

But Iraqi opposition sources said envoys from the London-based Iraqi National Congress held talks with Pentagon officials on the use of millions of dollars in U.S. aid for what the sources termed security operations in Iraq. Over the next few weeks, INC members will be sent for five days in weapons training in College Station, Texas.