DoD: Newbold on Iraqi Anticipation of U.S. Attack

BRIEFING BY LT. GEN. NEWBOLD
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

May 20, 2002

Excerpt

. . .

Q: Can we do a quick Iraq -- (inaudible)?

Clarke: Sure.

Q: General Newbold, the strike in [Operation] Southern Watch, their use of aircraft-direction-finding equipment -- is there anything in that that you find particularly interesting? That's not something they use every day of the week. And they've turned this system on recently apparently twice in two weeks to target coalition aircraft.

Newbold: These are fixed sites. They're permanent. They're for -- they are used in directing or coordinating their attacks. They help to increase the effectiveness of the Iraqi air defense, and when they continue to threaten our forces, as you've seen in the past, we're going to take actions that reduce their ability to do that.

Q: But any idea of why they've suddenly used it once again? Is there any sense that they're re-establishing the grid or the linkages across Southern Iraq that they previously had?

Newbold: I would rather characterize it as, they are always, always trying something new, different, in order to confront our aircraft. And we're always willing to make sure that they can't do it effectively.

Q: Sir, is there any evidence that the Iraqi military is taking steps to prepare against a potential U.S. attack?

Newbold: I think the Iraqis are probably reading the newspapers and the reports as well as anybody is. And I think they're spending a good deal of time in planning to --

Clarke: Thank you. Thank you.

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Search WMD profiles Iraqi entities of concern Iraq's suppliers UN documents Government documents Controlled items Perspectives	BRIEFING BY LT. GEN. NEWBOLD DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE May 20, 2002 *Excerpt* . . . Q: Can we do a quick Iraq -- (inaudible)? Clarke: Sure. Q: General Newbold, the strike in [Operation] Southern Watch, their use of aircraft-direction-finding equipment -- is there anything in that that you find particularly interesting? That's not something they use every day of the week. And they've turned this system on recently apparently twice in two weeks to target coalition aircraft. Newbold: These are fixed sites. They're permanent. They're for -- they are used in directing or coordinating their attacks. They help to increase the effectiveness of the Iraqi air defense, and when they continue to threaten our forces, as you've seen in the past, we're going to take actions that reduce their ability to do that. Q: But any idea of why they've suddenly used it once again? Is there any sense that they're re-establishing the grid or the linkages across Southern Iraq that they previously had? Newbold: I would rather characterize it as, they are always, always trying something new, different, in order to confront our aircraft. And we're always willing to make sure that they can't do it effectively. Q: Sir, is there any evidence that the Iraqi military is taking steps to prepare against a potential U.S. attack? Newbold: I think the Iraqis are probably reading the newspapers and the reports as well as anybody is. And I think they're spending a good deal of time in planning to -- Clarke: Thank you. Thank you.