Roche, Jumper give Senate war update

3/26/2003 - WASHINGTON -- The U.S.-led "coalition of the willing" has achieved total air dominance in the skies over Iraq, Air Force leaders told members of the Senate on March 26.

"The Iraqi air force has not flown a single sortie against coalition forces," Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche told members of the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee on defense. "This is total air dominance."

Coalition aircraft have flown more than 4,800 sorties over Iraq during the first five days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Roche said. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said Air Force aircraft have achieved an overall mission capable rate of 80 to 90 percent.

"The picture in the air operations center shows a condensed presence of air power over the entire country of Iraq," Roche said. "If we could have a camera looking down from far overhead, and a blue dot (representing) every American aircraft over Iraq, you'd see the total coverage of air power over that country."

Coalition aircraft have primarily focused on Iraqi regime, command and control, weapons of mass destruction and military targets, Roche said. Other missions have included interdiction and close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, scud missile searches and information operations.

Jumper said that although the Iraqi air force has been missing in action thus far, it must still be considered a threat.

"The Iraqis have more than 100 very capable aircraft left," he said. "One could conclude, by looking at their actions, that they threw up their hands and gave up. (But) I would hasten to add, they still have capability and we have to respect that."