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To: Captain James T. Kirk who wrote (33026)	12/17/1998 12:23:00 PM
From: stockvalinvestor	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 95453

Second wave of airstrikes on Iraq begins WASHINGTON - U.S. forces triggered a second wave of airstrikes against Iraq today as President Clinton said "it would have been a disaster" if the United States had stood aside and allowed Iraq to develop weapons of mass destruction. Defense Secretary William Cohen said the first round of airstrikes had produced "severe damage" to some targets. The second wave sent cruise missiles deep into Iraq, and Navy strike aircraft with laser-guided bombs targeted Iraqi air defenses along the border, said a senior defense official who asked not to be identified. "The B-52s are on the way," said a senior military planner, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. Clinton, meeting in the Oval Office with top military and foreign policy advisers this morning, expressed regret that there would inevitably be "unintended casualties." The strikes began in the early evening Iraqi time, shortly after 11 a.m. EST, the senior defense official said. In Baghdad, children went to school and government workers to their offices as usual after the first night's attacks. Downtown streets were busy with traffic. Saddam Hussein's whereabouts were unknown, but he appeared on television to condemn the "wicked people" who launched hundreds of missiles. Amid images of crumpled brick buildings in Baghdad, an Iraqi doctor said 30 people were wounded and two killed during the initial attacks. Clinton said the military operation would not be affected by the impeachment drama on Capitol Hill. He brushed aside criticism from Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and other Republicans skeptical about his motives for the attack. "I am convinced the decision I made ... though difficult was absolutely the right thing to do," he said. As to whether the attack was a diversionary tactic against impeachment, Clinton said, "I don't believe any serious person would believe any president would do such a thing." The president said he had bent over backwards not to use force, noting that he canceled an attack at the last second last November when Saddam promised to comply with U.N. weapons inspectors. "I think it is very important that we not allow Saddam Hussein to destroy the (inspection) system without any penalty whatever" and to escape sanctions," he said. "I think it would have been a disaster for us to do this, so regrettably I made this decision." The president also served notice that it would be "a disastrous mistake" if Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.