In contrast, Dr. Cline said, ''our capability to observe exactly what's going on is great,'' adding: ''Iraq has an enormous military force. But if we continue the relentless collection of data, we could wipe them out very quickly because we have much better intelligence than they do.''

Images Used in War

Even low-power civilian cameras in space can reveal much. Photographs taken by SPOT imaging satellites, which have been used for years by scientists to study the earth's resources, can reveal objects on the ground as small as 30 feet in diameter.

Dr. Zimmerman at George Washington, who has studied the military value of SPOT imagery, said the satellites can see ships, air bases, artillery emplacements, some aircraft and the long scars left by moving tanks. Indeed, he said, apparently both Iraq and Iran used SPOT images during their eight-year war.

The SPOT satellite could also aid the Iraqis in the current conflict by revealing the location and strength of some of the more obvious concentrations of American forces, reconnaissance experts said.

But the company that runs SPOT, which is based in France, has refused to sell such Middle Eastern imagery, at least to news organizations. As a matter of policy, the concern will say nothing about its other customers. ''We've decided as a private company not to get involved in the current situation,'' said Clark Nelson, a spokesman for SPOT Image Corporation in Reston, Va., which distributes the French civil photographs.

It is the first time a commercial concern has refused to sell space imagery because of a military crisis.

The oldest and most prominent part of the American Government's spy craft arsenal is made up of four photo-taking satellites. Two older models, known as KH-11's, as well as two newer ones with more powerful telescopes are said to be in orbit. These craft have small engines that allow them to shift orbits to cover targets of interest. The craft can see just about everything of military significance, including individual ships, tanks, planes, arms depots and logistics areas, indicating the state of preparedness of a foe.