*EPF501 02/16/01
Transcript: White House Spokesman on Iraq Airstrikes
(Iraqi targets threatened coalition aircraft) (710)

White House spokesman Air Fleischer said allied warplanes conducted "routine" air strikes against Iraqi command and control installations that threatened allied aircraft patrolling an Iraqi no-fly zone.

"Coalition aircraft struck targets that were instrumental in providing air defenses that threaten coalition aircraft that were on patrol in the southern no-fly zone," Fleischer told reporters at the summit meeting between President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox in San Cristobal, Mexico February 16.

Fleischer said Bush approved the air strikes and all the allied aircraft returned to their bases safely.

Following is a transcript of Fleischer's briefing:

(begin transcript)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Leon, Mexico)

February 16, 2001

REMARKS BY ARI FLEISCHER IN Q&A WITH THE TRAVEL POOL

Rancho San Cristobol
San Cristobol, Mexico

1:36 P.M. (L)

MR. FLEISCHER: Since 1991, coalition aircraft have been enforcing the no-fly zone in Iraq. Today allied armed forces conducted a routine strike associated with enforcement of the no-fly zone. Coalition aircraft struck targets that were instrumental in providing air defenses that threaten coalition aircraft that were on patrol in the southern no-fly zone.

The President authorized the strike because of the risk posed to our aircraft. All coalition aircraft have returned safely.

Q: Was this planned, Ari, or was this a spontaneous --

MR. FLEISCHER: The President authorized it yesterday.

Q: When did he authorize it?

MR. FLEISCHER: Yesterday.

Q: Did something happen to provoke this, Ari, did some incident happen to provoke this?

MR. FLEISCHER: It was the existence of radar facilities that posed a threat to our aircraft, that identified our aircraft. There is a simultaneous briefing going on at the Pentagon as we speak. The Pentagon is briefing at 2:30 p.m. and will provide additional detailed information about the strikes and about the targets.

Q: For the President to have specifically approved it indicates it's more than just a routine thing, though, because rules of engagement --

MR. FLEISCHER: No, it is routine. In this case, the aircraft would be on patrol in the southern no-fly zone, and that's why it required the President's authorization. That has happened before; that is, unfortunately, routine.

Q: Do we know whether these were newly-constructed radar?

MR. FLEISCHER: DOD will be taking that.

Q: How was Bush informed today? Was there a note slipped to him in his meetings?

MR. FLEISCHER: The President authorized the strike and so he knew, of course, about what would result.

Q: Yes, but wasn't he notified inside that the strike did take place?

MR. FLEISCHER: He was notified.

Q: By a piece of paper being slipped to him?

MR. FLEISCHER: A routine notification -- whether it was paper or --

Q: Anymore strikes planned, or is this a --

MR. FLEISCHER: We don't discuss that type of information.

Q: When was he informed today that it had happened?

MR. FLEISCHER: He authorized it yesterday morning and he was informed this afternoon.

Q: Did it interrupt the talks going on with President Fox, or when did it --

MR. FLEISCHER: The President, of course, since he authorized it, knew that it was going to happen.

Q: How does he feel this affects the feel of this summit? I mean, does it ruin the good feeling that we've had in Mexico?

MR. FLEISCHER: It was a routine enforcement and it was part of protecting a coalition in Iraq.

Q: You wouldn't say there is a message being sent here to Saddam Hussein or any other --

MR. FLEISCHER: The President has always said that he takes seriously our responsibility to protect our coalition allies and to enforce the no-fly zone.

Thank you, everybody.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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