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Politics : Foreign Policy Discussion Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (2101)	1/12/2003 2:52:03 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 15987

And some creative information "warfare" against Iraq.. Taking the US case directly to those who possess email in Iraq.. Nice that the US control the internet DNS servers and knows who's got an email address in Iraq: US Government Starts E-Mail Campaign to Key Iraqis Reuters Saturday, January 11, 2003; 2:40 PM washingtonpost.com By Niala Boodhoo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has begun an e-mail campaign urging military and civilian leaders in Iraq to turn away from President Saddam Hussein as the Pentagon builds forces for a possible invasion of the country, defense officials said on Saturday. Visitors to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, confirmed the electronic mail campaign, part of a psychological war mounted by elite U.S. Special Operations who also have been broadcasting messages from planes over the past month. The U.S. government has traditionally used leaflets and radio broadcasts to communicate with Iraqis, but these e-mails, in Arabic, urge recipients to "protect their families" and turn over information to U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq searching for weapons of mass destruction. Entitled "Important Information," the messages also urge Iraqis not to follow orders to use chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, to identify where they are located by signals or render the weapons ineffective. Iraq denies that it has any banned weapons programs, but Washington says it does and that if Iraq continues to deceive, it would be in "material breach" of U.N. Security Council resolutions and could mean war. Thousands of additional U.S. troops were ordered to the Gulf on Friday, with the aim of more than doubling the 60,000 troops already in the region while President Bush decides whether to order an invasion. "This is a program we've established," a defense official told Reuters. "They need to realize that if there is military action, their actions have consequences." AUTHORITIES BLOCK E-MAIL SERVICE Iraqis began to receive the e-mails last week, visitors there said. The state-controlled e-mail service is available only to a small number of Iraqis, mainly government officials, senior public servants, academics and scientists. Iraqi authorities have blocked the e-mail service access in an apparent attempt to stop the messages from spreading inside the country, visitors said. The Internet is available in Iraq but many sites are off limits and all foreign e-mail servers are blocked. The e-mails contain messages similar to what has been broadcast over radio, the U.S. defense officials said. Warplanes taking part in U.S.-British patrols in recent weeks have dumped hundreds of thousands of leaflets over Iraq urging citizens to tune into American special forces radio broadcasts, transmitted from modified C-130 "Commando Solo" military cargo planes and ground stations outside Iraq. The e-mails, seen by Reuters, contain such messages as: -- "If you provide information on weapons of mass destruction or you take steps to hamper their use we will do what is necessary to protect you and protect your families. Failing to do that will lead to grave personal consequences. -- "If you took part in the use of these ugly weapons you'll be regarded as war criminals. If you can make these weapons ineffective then do it. If you can identify the position of weapons of mass destruction by light signals, then do it. If all this is not possible, then at least refuse to take part in any activity or follow orders to use weapons of mass destruction. -- "Iraqi chemical, biological and nuclear weapons violate Iraq's commitment to agreements and United Nations resolutions. Iraq has been isolated because of this behavior. The United States and its allies want the Iraqi people to be liberated from Saddam's injustice and for Iraq to become a respected member of the international community. Iraq's future depends on you."

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (2101)	1/12/2003 3:20:27 PM
From: mistermj	Respond to of 15987

>>Any thoughts out there on whether the US should indulge Mr. Richardson's proposal for a non-aggression pact with Kim Jong Il? << I'm rather angry that he felt the need to publicly make such a proposal.

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (2101)	1/12/2003 3:53:18 PM
From: lorne	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 15987

Hawk....." Any thoughts out there on whether the US should indulge Mr. Richardson's proposal for a non-aggression pact with Kim Jong Il? "..... This is not a thought about Richardson's proposal but I have the feeling that the focus of our's and world attention is being directed towards North Korea and away from Iraq? Intentional??