United States Military Assaults

In unleashing a barrage of cruise missiles, the U.S. military on Thursday turned once again to a weapon that, despite limited punch, has become a favorite of Pentagon planners for its speed, stealth and low risk. The Tomahawk cruise missile, at a price tag of $1.2 million each, can be programmed to hit targets 1,000 miles away without jeopardizing the safety of pilots or aircraft. "With the Tomahawks, there's no risk," said Army Col.

With U.S. officials increasingly confident that they will soon determine who bombed the warship Cole, policymakers and national security officials here are beginning to consider how best to meet President Clinton's vow to hold the perpetrators "accountable." Officials said they have not ruled out any option, from a missile strike against those who orchestrated the attack to a covert military operation to snatch suspects and bring them to trial.

With U.S. officials increasingly confident that they will soon determine who bombed the warship Cole, policymakers and national security officials here are beginning to consider how best to meet President Clinton's vow to hold the perpetrators "accountable." Officials said they have not ruled out any option, from a missile strike against those who orchestrated the attack to a covert military operation to snatch suspects and bring them to trial.

Inside America, President Clinton will go down as only the second president to be impeached. But overseas, he may well be remembered as America's cruise-missile president. With last week's 70-hour salvo against Iraq, the administration demonstrated beyond any doubt that cruise missile attacks--which inflict damage without risking American casualties--have become a central element in U.S. foreign policy. It's worth asking how effective these are in achieving their intended results.

Across the country today, Americans are marking the Fourth of July with tributes to victory in the Persian Gulf, putting a period to the war . But long after the cheers have faded, it is in the memory of individuals that wars endure. Like bits of shrapnel buried too deep for surgery, fragments of personal experience remain lodged inside those who did the fighting . Today, several hundred thousand Americans, outwardly untouched, have been changed forever.

Inside America, President Clinton will go down as only the second president to be impeached. But overseas, he may well be remembered as America's cruise-missile president. With last week's 70-hour salvo against Iraq, the administration demonstrated beyond any doubt that cruise missile attacks--which inflict damage without risking American casualties--have become a central element in U.S. foreign policy. It's worth asking how effective these are in achieving their intended results.

In unleashing a barrage of cruise missiles, the U.S. military on Thursday turned once again to a weapon that, despite limited punch, has become a favorite of Pentagon planners for its speed, stealth and low risk. The Tomahawk cruise missile, at a price tag of $1.2 million each, can be programmed to hit targets 1,000 miles away without jeopardizing the safety of pilots or aircraft. "With the Tomahawks, there's no risk," said Army Col.

Across the country today, Americans are marking the Fourth of July with tributes to victory in the Persian Gulf, putting a period to the war . But long after the cheers have faded, it is in the memory of individuals that wars endure. Like bits of shrapnel buried too deep for surgery, fragments of personal experience remain lodged inside those who did the fighting . Today, several hundred thousand Americans, outwardly untouched, have been changed forever.