[van-discuss] US and UK preparing assault on Iraqis

[ernie yacub]

Please pass this on, especially in the UK where there may be some hope of 
stopping Blair....ernie


 Bush rallies US for strike on Iraq

Peter Beaumont and Paul Beaver
Sunday July 21, 2002
The Observer

President George Bush has told US troops to be ready for 'pre-emptive 
military action' against Iraq, as security sources warned that a massive 
assault against President Saddam Hussein could be likely at 'short notice'.

Whitehall sources confirmed that Tony Blair had decided Britain must back 
any US assault and had ordered defence planners to begin the preparations 
for a new war in the Gulf.

'President Bush has already made up his mind. This is going to happen. It 
is a given,' said one Whitehall source. 'What we are waiting for is to be 
told the details of how and when and where.'

Although Britain has not decided on its level of commitment, defence 
sources say planners have been told to expect to send 20,000-30,000 British 
troops.

The sources added that British Challenger II main battle tanks and other 
key armoured fighting vehicles were being pushed through a crash servicing 
and refit programme. The Ministry of Defence has explained the crash 
repairs programme by saying it is for a military exercise planned for 
Scotland.

However, expectation of a large British involvement in a US-led war to 
topple Saddam Hussein has been raised by reports that Britain will issue an 
emergency call-up of reservists in September and by reports of other 
preparations, including a big increase in RAF training flights.

'The combat indicators are all there,' said one source. 'This is going to 
happen. And perhaps sooner than we think.'

Whitehall sources claim, however, that the Prime Minister is hesitating in 
declaring his full endorsement of Bush's plans until Washington puts in a 
formal request for British troops.

Unlike Bush, Blair is understood to be concerned that Britain can make a 
legal case for intervening in Iraq to remove Saddam, because of concern 
that his support for the war could split the Cabinet and lose the support 
of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

Blair ordered the preparation of a document that would lay out the 
justification for attacking Iraq three months ago. Sources say the document 
- expected to set out a 'legal framework' for a war - has been completed.

The latest disclosures came as Bush used a visit to the troops that fought 
al-Qaeda forces in Afghanistan to renew his vow that the United States 
would strike pre-emptively against countries developing weapons of mass 
destruction, telling troops that 'America must act against these terrible 
threats before they're fully formed'.

Surrounded by troops of the 10th Mountain Division, among the first sent to 
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, one of the soldiers yelled: 'Let's get Saddam!'

Bush's address came amid reports of efforts by Iraqi diplomats to court 
Arab neighbours in countries that might be used for a US assault.

Iraq began to end a decade of diplomatic isolation in March at the Arab 
summit. Since then - according to the Washington Post - it has signed up to 
economic agreements with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and discussed 
prisoner exchanges with Iran, putting pressure on Washington to act swiftly.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002