Cohen defends US policy toward Iraq

US Defense Secretary William Cohen has asserted the continued US policy toward Iraq. In a statement to BBC television, Cohen, currently visiting South Africa, said the US will continue its military operations in the two no-fly zones in the northern and southern parts of Iraq.

Cohen stated that the sanctions imposed on Baghdad and the continued air strikes are doing their job. Replying to criticism which said that the US policy toward Iraq has no aim, Cohen said his country's policy is not trembling and that Iraq is the one which suffers disturbances.

The US has embarked on a series of daily strikes aims at the infrastructure of the Iraqi radar system that poses the greatest threat, according to the Pentagon, to the US in its attempts to maintain control of the so-call "no fly zones" in south and northern Iraq where US jets maintain surveillance and other activities. The Pentagon confirmed yesterday that is Iraq is being aggressive in its confrontation and challenge of these no fly zones,saying that the US will continue to strike Iraqi targets so long as these challenges continue. The Pentagon said yesterday that it struck five target in north and south Iraq including a site that was described as a communication center used to relay radar communication.

Earlier in the week, France said the sanctions policy against Iraq is not achieving its purpose describing them as "has proven today its futility and harshness."