Ships in Gulf Will Have OK to Use Force--Weinberger

Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger told Congress today that the U.S. vessels in the Persian Gulf protecting Kuwaiti tankers will be authorized to use force “in the face of attack or hostile intent indicating imminent attack.”

Weinberger maintained that risks to U.S. naval forces from protecting the reflagged vessels are “moderate.”

“There are some risks, particularly from unconventional threats, such as Iranian terrorism or sabotage,” he said.

Weinberger publicly released an unclassified version of an Administration report sent to Capitol Hill late Monday describing plans to provide Navy protection to 11 Kuwaiti oil tankers that are being allowed to fly U.S. flags.

Presenting the report in a closed session of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Weinberger said three vessels outfitted to meet potential sea, air and land-based missile threats will be added to U.S. forces in the area.

The report said U.S. forces in the gulf will operate under rules stipulating that any aircraft or ship that maneuvers into a position where it could fire a missile, drop a bomb or use gunfire on a ship will be showing evidence of hostile intent.

Forces would be permitted then to defend themselves or U.S.-flag commercial vessels with the force necessary to “neutralize” the threat, it said.

Emerging from the briefing, Rep. William S. Broomfield of Michigan, senior Republican on the panel, said Weinberger’s presentation left him with questions and concerns. “I don’t think there’s any way you can guarantee” security for the U.S. vessels, he said.