US Official Restates Policy on Iraq Move to North

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Daily Press Briefing Index
Monday, July 9, 2001
BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman

QUESTION: Thank you. Several weeks ago there were reports that the Iraqis were moving
troops north towards the Kurdish areas of Iraq. Over the weekend, there was an Iraqi
newspaper that is reported to have said that the Iraqis were going to take back the Kurdish
areas of their country.

Do you have any reaction to this? Do you know anything more about troops movements and
whether they are in any threatening posture?

MR. BOUCHER: I would have to check and see if there is anything new on troop
movements. I haven't checked on that for a while. I would say that our policy remains the
same, our commitment remains strong. We have operations, northern and southern watch,
that prevent the Baghdad regime from using airpower to repress their people. This also
provides a deterrent against Iraqi action and a warning should any action be considered. And
you will remember that we have made quite clear, so- called red lines, one of which would
be an Iraqi move towards the north.

So none of that has changed, and we have been quite clear on our policies on those points.

QUESTION: I just want to clarify. So if ground troops attacked Kurdish targets in the north,
then US planes would strike the Iraqi troops?

MR. BOUCHER: Eli, I didn't give you an, "if A, and B, then C." It's not formulaic in that
manner. We have made quite clear that we have capabilities and we have options and that
should Iraq do certain things, we would respond as we determined appropriate at a time and
place of our choosing.
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