Washington ? U.S. pilots patrolling the skies over Iraq have taken a new approach to defending themselves against Iraqi gunners by striking at the command and communications links in Iraq’s air defense system rather than its guns and radars, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Monday.

The switch, which Rumsfeld said he personally ordered more than a month ago, is designed to do more long-lasting damage to Iraq’s ability to shoot down the American and British pilots whose fighters jets have been patrolling “no fly” zones over northern and southern Iraq for 11 years.

Rumsfeld said he could not say whether the change of approach had left Iraq less capable of defending itself in the event President Bush ordered airstrikes as part of an operation to overthrow Saddam Hussein. He said the Iraqis have a history of replacing or repairing damaged parts of their air defense system.

“Whether they are going to be stronger or weaker in the event anything were to occur in the future is a function of how fast they are able to rebuild, replace and replenish that capability,” he said.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, meanwhile, said he is “absolutely sure” the United States is going to move ahead on a new Security Council resolution ensuring a tough U.N. stand against Iraq to force the country to accept weapons inspections.

Bush, keeping up the threat of war, said Monday that the world didn’t need to know how close Saddam Hussein is to building a nuclear weapon before facing him down.

Bush, Rumsfeld and Powell spoke before Iraq announced Monday that it would allow U.N. weapons inspectors to return. The White House dismissed the offer as a tactical move.