Posted on 03/11/2003 10:37:57 AM PST by kattracks
Mar 11, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq said an aerial confrontation between U.S. surveillance planes and Iraqi fighter jets was a "technical mistake" resulting from a mistake on the part of U.N. weapons inspectors, who have apologized to Iraq.
U.S. officials said Iraqi fighter jets threatened two American U-2 surveillance planes, forcing them to abort their mission and return to base. A Pentagon official said the decision to end the mission was made "in the interest of safety."
In Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Hossam Mohammed Amin, the chief Iraqi liaison with U.N. weapons inspectors, told reporters that the second flight by the American U-2 had not been scheduled Tuesday.
Both flights took place Tuesday morning and it was the U.N. inspectors that ordered the two planes to leave Iraqi airspace, he said.
Amin said the second plane's entry point was over the Iraqi-Saudi border and not from Kuwait as it has been the custom since the flights began last month.
He said he contacted the senior U.N. inspector in Baghdad, who told him that a technical error was made. "He promised that the mistake would never be repeated and offered his sincere apology," Amin said.
"They (the inspectors) asked the two planes to leave," Amin said in a hurriedly convened news conference at the Information Ministry.
Amin poured scorn on the American version of events, saying it reflected "the frustration and the failure of American policies in finding excuses for aggression against Iraq."
The U-2 planes were flying missions at 2 a.m. Iraqi time for the U.N. weapons inspectors when Iraq launched fighter jets. According to two of the officials, the threat was directed against one of the two planes, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Multiple flights are permitted under a U.N. Security Council resolution approved last November, and the Bush administration sought clarification from U.N. inspectors after the U-2 flights were suspended.
A spokesman for the inspection agency said in New York that Iraqi authorities "expressed surprise" when notified of the flights and the agency requested the planes turn back. Further U-2 and Mirage reconnaissance fights are planned, the spokesman, Ewen Buchanan, said.
"I can confirm that two U-2 reconnaissance aircraft operating on behalf of UNMOVIC operated in Iraqi airspace this morning. Although Iraq had been notified of a flight time window, they expressed surprise and concern that two flights were operating simultaneously. In the interest of safety UNMOVIC requested the aircraft to withdraw. Further U-2 and Mirage reconnaissance flights are still planned."
The statement made no reference to Iraq launching fighter jets, nor was it critical of Baghdad in any way.
The surveillance operations are considered a major tool in checking on Iraq's weaponry, but there are other means, as well.
The U.N. inspection agency, known, as UNMOVIC, had given advance notice to Iraq of the flights, said the U.S. official.
Mar 11, 2003 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq said an aerial confrontation between U.S. surveillance planes and Iraqi fighter jets was a "technical mistake" resulting from a mistake on the part of U.N. weapons inspectors, who have apologized to Iraq. (from article)
This is absolutely ridiculous! Iraqi's asked UMOVIC to suspend the flight. Rumsfeld just said he would not put Iraq on the cooperating side of the ledger for Iraq.
So its war then...
With what would you escort it? It's kind of hard to fly escort to a plane that flies higher than just about any plane in the world.
Because technically speaking the escorts would be committing an act of war. The U-2 flights are UN sanctioned, with Iraqi agreement. The escorts would be US military aircraft intruding in Iraqi airspace. The U-2s are flying over what little (about 1/3) of the country isn't in a "no fly" zone. We and the Brits fly in the no fly zone under the terms of the armistice that ended the Gulf War, phase I, and thus are not flying over sovereign territory without permision of the locals.
That said, air "cover" would be still be a good idea, screw the UN and the Iraqis. Of course the "cover" would of necessity fly under the U-2s, because other aircraft can't fly as high as a U-2 routinely operates. In fact I'm sort of surpised a fighter can present a threat to a U-2, although I guess a Mig-25 or -29 with one of those big hulking Russian/Soviet missles could probably reach out and touch it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.