Go to Home Page  How to Contact Us    (U.S. military says
strikes needed for self-defense)  February 16, 2001  U.S. Marine
Corps Lt. General Greg Newbold said 24 U.S. and British war
planes attacked five Iraqi command and control installations
February 16 to protect allied aircraft patrolling the southern
no-fly zone in Iraq.  Briefing reporters in Washington February
16, Newbold said the attack had become necessary because the
increasing frequency and sophistication of the Iraqi air
defenses posed a growing threat to allied aircraft and their
crews, who requested the attack.  "It reached the point where it
was obvious to our forces that they had to conduct operations to
safeguard those pilots and aircraft. As a matter of fact, it's
essentially a self-defense measure in conducting the operation,"
Newbold said.  He added that the targets were chosen because of
the threat they posed to allied aircraft and because they were
separated from populated areas. The Iraqi targets were located
north of the 33rd parallel