WASHINGTON (AP) -- Iraq has three main options for carrying out its threat to attack Turkey, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia for supporting recent U.S. air attacks, but none is likely to succeed, U.S. officials say.
Iraq could fire Scud missiles, attack by air with planes or launch a terrorist attack, Kenneth Bacon, spokesman for Defense Secretary William Cohen, said Tuesday."All of these would be difficult, given the circumstances that Iraq faces today," Bacon said, referring to the deterioration of Iraq's military since the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the effect of the U.N. economic embargo and the strength of U.S. forces in the area that could retaliate.
Iraq's state-controlled media warned U.S. allies Tuesday they will pay a high price for playing host to American and British warplanes that patrol "no-fly" zones over Iraq. The planes have attacked Iraqi air defense installations almost daily in recent weeks in what the Pentagon calls self-defense.
Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan said Monday that Baghdad would attack Incirlik Air Base in south-central Turkey -- used by U.S. and British warplanes -- if the jets continue patrolling Iraqi skies. It was the first time in years Iraq has threatened to attack its northern neighbor.
In Ankara, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz defended his government's threat.
"The U.S. and British planes are killing Iraqis, are destroying Iraqi property, and this is not acceptable," Aziz said Tuesday. "A Turkish air base should not be used by the Americans and British to hurt Iraqis."
Bacon said Incirlik is at "the very outer edge" of the range of Scud ballistic missiles that Iraq might use against Turkey and is protected by a small contingent of U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile missiles. Iraq says it has no more Scud missiles, but U.N. arms inspectors are not sure.
Bacon said Iraq's depleted air force would stand little chance against U.S. and allied air defenses in Turkey, Kuwait or Saudi Arabia.