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American Morning

America's New War: U.S. and British Warplanes Strike Anti- Aircraft Artillery Units Stationed by Iraqis

Aired September 27, 2001 - 10:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Keeping track of all the military development for us this morning over at the Pentagon, CNN's Bob Franken -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, in what has become a routine announcement over the years is literally in the thousands now, or in the hundreds rather, over 1,000 times, the Central Command, which oversees the U.S. military operation in the Persian Gulf has announced that once again U.S. and British warplanes struck, according to the announcement, at artillery, anti-aircraft artillery units that are stationed, were stationed by the Iraqis, and according to U.S. military, constantly providing threats.

This was described as -- quote -- "self-defense measures in response to Iraqi hostile threats and acts against coalition aircrews and their aircraft." And went on to say -- and this is what so unusual -- "not related to the president's campaign against terrorism. In other words, the same kind of thing happening on still another day. This is of course something that does happen quite routinely, and it is the second time in less than a week that there have been this kind of attack. But the Pentagon goes on to make sure that everyone understands that this has become quite of the routine, the dangerous routine in that part of the world, not related to the terrorism struggle that is going on now, but still one of the troubles that continues to face the United States and its partner whose are aligned against Iraq -- John.

KING: I assume by that, the Pentagon saying this is routine and not related to the ongoing campaign that the Pentagon is saying that is has no evidence that the Iraqi government is say, trying to antagonize the U.S. pilots. At the same time, it knows a military buildup close by is going on.

FRANKEN: Well, you know, it's interesting. They're putting certain things into an announcement now that you might not normally expect, trying to make sure that the connection is not made between the two. They went out of their way to do that.

A bit unusual for this kind of announcement.

KING: All right, CNN's Bob Franken standing by for us at the Pentagon. We'll check in with you later in the day.

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