These are serious allegations. If there is evidence to suggest Saddam has already given away biologic weapons to Palestinian terrorist groups then that would easily qualify as a bona fide reason to invade Iraq and replace the regime now. But I suspect these "intelligence reports" are mere speculation with no basis for facts
As of now they are intelligence estimates coming out of the British Foreign Office (the source for the London Times article) and the Mossad:
Israel intelligence projects Iraqi missile strike if Saddam is cornered
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, August 5, 2002
JERUSALEM — Israel's military has projected that Iraq could launch nonconventional missiles strikes should President Saddam Hussein feel his regime is endangered by the United States.
The threat of an Iraqi attack has led to a revision of Israeli combat doctrine, the sources said. They said Israel has upgraded its early-warning alert of any Iraqi attack despite U.S. pledges to supply such a warning.
In all, the sources said, Israel cannot expect advance warning of more than eight hours of any U.S. attack on Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported. They said this will demand increase satellite reconnaissance and intelligence operations to determine Iraqi military movements.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why Gamble With Your Family's Health?: Special offer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Military sources said the Israeli intelligence estimate is that Iraq could use medium-range missiles with biological or chemical warheads against Israel amid any U.S.-led war against Baghdad. The sources said the intelligence estimate has concluded that Iraq has several dozen extended-range Scud B missiles capable of reaching the Jewish state.
The prospect of an Iraqi WMD strike against Israel is not certain, the sources said. They said the prospect depends on whether he feels any chance of surviving a U.S. attack and Iraqi capability.
"Iraq has apparently production capability of biological weapons and chemical," Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said. "We can't allow these weapons to be left in the hands of one man."
In that case, the sources said, Saddam could try to fire missiles or place weapons with biological weapons meant to destroy wide areas of Israel.
This could include the use of anthrax, VX or lethal strains of virus. Already, the sources said, Israeli authorities have been stockpiling vaccinations against smallpox.
The Israeli estimate asserts that Iraq could use Palestinian insurgents to launch a nonconventional weapons attack on Israeli facilities.
Military intelligence believes that Iraq has been training Palestinians to assemble such weapons and designate targets in Israel should the United States strike the Saddam regime.
[In London, the Times daily reported that the British government has assessed that Saddam plans to provide biological weapons for attacks against American or Israeli targets. The newspaper said Saddam is trying to develop a range of biological agents that can be launched via an aerosol system.]
[On Sunday morning, an Israeli passenger bus blew up near the northern city of Safed. Initial reports said at least six people were killed and 20 were injured.]
worldtribune.com |
