Iowa Senators defend attack on Iraq

Thousands demonstrated in the streets of Baghdad today, burning U-S and British flags to protest last week’s air strikes by U-S and British warplanes. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley supports the military strikes, saying the actions took out Saddam’s anti-aircraft weapons and radar installations. Grassley says the safety of U-S pilots patrolling the no-fly zones of Iraq must be protected.Iowa’s other U-S Senator, Tom Harkin, is traveling overseas, but his staff says the Senator supports the recent U-S action in the Gulf. Iowa Air National Guard planes and crews occasionally are sent to the Persian Gulf region to patrol the skies of Iraq to ensure that nation is complying with United Nations resolutions. Officials say the 122 Iowans who are presently in the region are providing security at an outpost and were no where near the action.