The Telegraph - London - 11/13/98
By Tim Butcher, Defence Correspondent
Air armada ready to strike Iraq
ADDITIONAL firepower gathered in the Gulf region last night as Washington put the finishing touches to a smaller but more potent
force than that assembled for the last confrontation with Saddam Hussein.
Military analysts said the force was more flexible and less unwieldy, with a greater emphasis on Tomahawk cruise missiles capable
of precision strikes, and fewer on ground troops. Sources said the line-up would be ready within "a matter of days" to deliver an
assault on Iraq if the political decision to proceed is taken.
The night of Nov 18-19 has been tipped for the attack as it has the advantage of marking a new moon, allowing Western aircraft to
be protected by the cover of complete darkness. But intelligence experts were still poring over lists of potential targets as questions
continued over the exact mission faced by the armed forces. Would it aim to destroy Iraqi facilities for producing weapons of mass
destruction or would it inflict more general damage on Saddam's regime?
There remains the problem of dealing with any rogue Iraqi attack, using, for example, a crop sprayer packed with poison gas. The
scenario is what military planners call an asymmetric threat and US strategists are concerned about countering all such risks.
In February, Britain contributed an aircraft carrier to the American-led build-up but this time the Pentagon has been effectively on its
own, with only two Royal Navy frigates in the area on regular patrol duties.
Washington now has a vast arsenal consisting of around 300 Block III Tomahawks - each costing around $1 million (£630,000) -
within striking distance of Iraq. They have been deployed on a nuclear submarine, two guided-missile cruisers and five destroyers. A
dozen B-52 long-range bombers were also on their way to the British base of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean last night. Each
aircraft can deploy 18 air-launched versions of the Tomahawk, and Iraq will be within their range.
America remains the only nation with cruise missiles capable of pinpoint accuracy, although Britain should become operational with
the system next week, when the first Tomahawk is fired from a Royal Navy submarine at a US test centre in the Pacific. Any attack
on Iraq would begin with a barrage by cruise missiles against set targets. Combat aircraft would be scrambled to ensure no Iraqi jets
retaliate.
Washington will soon have about 300 aircraft deployed in the Gulf, with 12 F-117 stealth fighters in Kuwait representing one of its
most potent wings. The F-117s are unlikely to be used in the first phase of any attack against Saddam, however, until anti-radar
missiles and cruise missiles have destroyed his Iraqi air defence network. And that network is extensive. It is also relatively
sophisticated, consisting of 340 missile launchers, mobile radars and various command and control facilities.
After the air defence system is knocked out, the F-117s will be free to fly into Iraqi airspace armed with their 2,000kg laser-guided
bunker-buster bombs. These devices are so sophisticated they can count the number of floors down through a building they have
passed before exploding. Britain's force of 12 Tornado GR1 bombers based in Kuwait could then come into play with their
laser-guided bombs that home in on targets "illuminated" with a laser beam.
With only 4,500 US troops in the Gulf any operation would remain purely an air offensive. There is no evidence of any meaningful
Iraqi troop movements and it is assumed any attempt by Saddam to mount a land attack would be monitored well in advance by
American satellites and other reconnaissance sources.
The problem remains over what targets are likely to be attacked. Members of the United Nations Special Commission have done
everything possible to visit sensitive sites in Iraq where weapons of mass destruction might be being produced. But by the very
nature of the confrontation, their list is far from being complete and authoritative.
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