Media Brief 4 FEB 91

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Q: A few days ago, General Schwarzkopf Lold us tliat you were flying. I think, about 300
sorties against the Republican Guard every day. Are they still running at that level? have they
~ up considerably? a
A: I think it~s been pfttty consistent. I think I told you it was about 250 sorties today
pretty hi~h tempo operation against the Republican Gu~

Q; Were those 25 tanks that were hit near the bo~er a particular threat. or were Lhcy near
thc Republican Guaras. or were they just there so you hit them?
A: Without giving you the exact geography, they were far enough back from the front lines
they did not represent any kind of impending offensive operation on the part of the Iraqis. `fl~ey
l~oked like they were. quite frankly. trying to hide in de~ilade at a position obviously in Kuwait1 but
not anywhere close to the border.

Q: In your description of the Missouri, it doesn't sound like its but I wondered whether your
ability to use the Missouri was related in any way to tile Jiritish suppression of the six gun
emplacemei)ts on Failaka Island the other day.
A; 1 would not draw any direct ~lationsbip with those two events.

Q: Did I understand you to lay earlier that even if you )cnew the Iraqi command and control.
or akrart, 11m not sure. but at least command and control were biding under residential nel5hbor-
hoods1 you would not go after them? If so. how do you square that. knowing that they will all now
do that?
A: 1'Łn not sure he can somehow put baif a million troops and 5.000 tanks in a residential
area. I'm not being flip about it. lie can hide a select part, I guess. of his military capability. but he
can't bide it all. We will continue to sc~puiously adhere to our policy, that we will not target
ci' `n a~. So I guess you could conclude that he has protected some of his assets.

Q: (inaudible)
A: Correct statement.

j Thank you ladics and gentlemen.

END