July 16, 2001
New York Times
U.S. Reassures Iraqi Kurds on Protection From Baghdad
By THOM SHANKER

WASHINGTON, July 15 — The Pentagon has assured Iraqi opposition leaders 
that it will not let Saddam Hussein use Iraqi airspace to attack the Kurds or to threaten 
Baghdad's neighbors, a Defense Department official said.

But a review of Iraqi policy is still under way, officials said, and the  administration might
decide that the two no-flight zones over southern and northern Iraq could be enforced 
with fewer jet-fighter patrols.

President Bush ordered the review of American strategy to isolate and disarm Iraq, a strategy
that includes economic sanctions and support of opposition groups.

The review of the no-flight zone policy was driven by escalating dangers to American and
British pilots. Iraqi air defense stations are increasingly skilled at zeroing in 
on the patrols and Pentagon officials wanted to measure the threat against the benefits of
continuing the low-grade war.

Senior Pentagon officials met on Friday with four members of the Iraqi National Congress,
an opposition group based in London, to discuss the no-flight policy.

"We regard the no-fly policy as extremely important," Sharif Ali bin al-Hussein, a member
of the leadership council of the Iraqi National Congress, said in an interview. 
Sharif Ali and a Pentagon official said that the Iraqis were reassured that the policy would be 
maintained but the methods may be revised.

"The principle of maintaining the no-flight zones is not in question," said an administration
official. "The question is how you do that: the number of flights; how you respond; rules 
of engagement. Those are still being reviewed. And they are the guts of the issue."

Military commanders have listed four proposals. One would leave the operation unchanged.
Another would eliminate enforcement of the no- flight zones entirely — which is not 
under consideration. Another proposal would step up American and British attacks on Iraqi
radars and antiaircraft
positions. The fourth proposal would sharply reduce patrols.

The opposition leaders also lobbied this week for an increase in financial assistance for the
Iraqi National Congress from Washington.

Sharif Ali said his organization wants to gather information and make contact with
opposition forces within Iraq — but would mount no armed attacks to topple Mr. Hussein.
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