This Time,Israelis Fear Saddam May Use Germ Warfare Attack

Independent (UK) ^ | 9-14-2002 | Justin Huggler

[blam]

This time, Israelis fear Saddam may use germ warfare attack

By Justin Huggler in Jerusalem
14 September 2002

The Israeli press greeted George Bush's speech to the UN unequivocally: war is coming to the Middle East again and it is a war in which Israelis expect their country to be targeted by Iraq.

"Declaration of war," said the headline in Yedioth Ahronoth. "On the way to war," said Ma'ariv. Israeli government officials have lobbied for war against Iraq, but no one doubts what this could mean. In a front page news analysis, Yedioth Ahronoth spelt out the stark prospect. "By the end of November, Israel must be prepared again for the possibility of non-conventional weapons in the Middle East," it said. That means the prospect of chemical or biological warheads fired from Iraq at Israel.

The Iraqi Trade Minister, Mohammad Mehdi Salih, in an interview with the United Arab Emirates newspaper Al-Khaleej, warned yesterday that "Israel will suffer a profound and an unforgettable strike if it interferes in the war".

During the Gulf War, the air raid sirens sounded over Israeli cities and there was a scramble to get into gas masks or reach shelters. Although Iraq fired Scud missiles at Israel, no "non-conventional" payloads came with them.

But no one is banking on it being the same this time around. For one thing, in 1991, under intense US pressure, Israel agreed not to respond to attacks from Iraq. This time, the government of Ariel Sharon has made it clear it has no intention of being so restrained. Yesterday, newspapers were speculating about whether Israel would wait for an Iraqi missile attack to respond, or try to launch pre-emptive strikes. Israeli ministers were quietly expressing satisfaction with Mr Bush's speech. The only reason there has not been a louder response is believed to be that the US has leant on the government to keep quiet. It believes Israeli statements have been making it hard to gather international support, in particular among Arab states.

There is support for war among the Israeli people as well, but there is also, in some quarters, nervousness.The government is trying to replace old gas masks and ensure everyone has one.The mayor of Ramat Gan, a municipality near Tel Aviv, has made contingency plans to evacuate the population to a tent city in the event of a missile attack. The neighbouring municipality, Givatayim, has bought filters for a nearby reservoir in case of chemical contamination.

But, for all these precautions, there is not a general atmosphere of alarm. One Tel Aviv resident, who lived through the Iraqi Scud attacks, said: "I want war. Iraq is dangerous for the whole Middle East. I'm not afraid. I've lived through plenty of wars."

World's press reacts to Bush's address

France

Le Monde comments that President George Bush's insistence on a United Nations resolution for eliminating Iraq's weapons of mass destruction is "apparently, simply to enforce UN resolutions on Iraq. In fact, it will be a way of enshrining the new strategic doctrine of 'pre-emptive war'. While Europeans say they are wary of such a doctrine, the Chinese and Russians can already see its advantage." Libération says that Mr Bush's speech was a "change of tactic but a reaffirmation of the stated goal, that is the elimination of Saddam Hussein and his regime".

Russia

Commentators note the coincidence between Mr Bush's speech about Iraq and President Vladimir Putin's letter to the UN Security Council threatening to attack Chechen rebels in Georgia. Izvestiya says: "The two situations practically mirror each other." Kommersant says Georgian officials "are afraid that the US will sacrifice Georgia for the sake of its operation against Iraq ... Of course, [Russia] does not expect US blessing for a special operation in Pankisi gorge, but ... Moscow hopes very much for a neutral or not too negative reaction from Washington."

United States

The Washington Post says that while President Bush's speech was "powerful in outlining Saddam Hussein's relentless drive to acquire deadly weapons, [it] was less clear in explaining why it is urgent to confront Iraq immediately, when the battle to neutralise al-Qa'ida is far from over". According to The New York Times, Mr Bush must now "demonstrate sincerity about working closely with the UN on Iraq, and developing a thoughtful and resourceful plan. He must not treat the speech as a symbolic gesture that can quickly be set aside to make way for an American attack."

Iraq

Al-Thawra, the newspaper of the ruling Ba'ath party, accused President Bush of wanting to "exploit the international body as a tool serving and giving legitimacy to his aggressive schemes against Iraq".

[Ipberg]

Thanks to Bill Clinton, Saddam Hussein had eight years to build up a supply of chemical and biological weapons in secret locations throughout Iraq. Four of those years without even the hassle of taking UN weapons inspectors to abandoned storage sites and keeping them away from the real sites.

[angkor]

Nuke 'em if they use bioweapons.

Period.

[Vidalia]

This time I would bet the Israelis know exactly what will not only be tossed in their direction, but at our soldiers as well.

It is more than a shame our soldiers may not.

The problem with this is that the military, except for the elite units, has done so much social engineering allowing girls (yes, they are girls at that age), downgrading their physical and mental requirements and learning other social graces rather than learning to kill the enemy an protect yourself from the weaponry of the enemy, that our infantry may be in danger of dying in large numbers not from enemy fire per se, but from being ill-prepared to handle the types of enemy fire.

From the "reality" crap shows about the military boot camps and the people who sign up seen on the History, Discovery and any other Arts & Entertainment channel, the DI was almost in a no-win situation with all the whining, crying and temper tantrums.

Along with the likes of the ill-conceived "Army of One" suckass theme, today's basic military is Kentucky Fried compared to the Chicken Almondine of the past.

These "soldiers", regardless of gender are going to need all the secular luck and help of God to perform this time, no thanks to the Congressional Poontang Social Engineering Club Members...

[The Great Satan]

Nuke 'em if they use bioweapons.

I would like to see us put a single B52 high over Baghdad, just executing figure eights 24x7 until Saddam is out. The people of Baghdad need to understand that certain death is just minutes away if Saddam tries anything. That should help "isolate" his ass.

[uncbob]

BTW
seems the suicide attacks have really slowed in Israel

[blam]

"I would like to see us put a single B52 high over Baghdad, just executing figure eights 24x7 until Saddam is out. The people of Baghdad need to understand that certain death is just minutes away if Saddam tries anything. That should help "isolate" his ass.

I bet Saddam will let loose on Israel before we attack, huh? He knows the jig is up with him and he will probably die, go for broke?

[The Great Satan]

I won't let loose against Israel -- or the continental US -- until it's game over. He's not suicidal.

[blam]

"I won't let loose against Israel -- or the continental US -- until it's game over. He's not suicidal."

He must know that he is history so...why wait until someone is already destroying your assets?

[The Great Satan]

I don't think he is history. I think he will get out of this alive, more than likely. Nobody has ever taken out a leader who has WMD. That has never happened in history.

[sheik yerbouty]

Iraq and other arab belligerents will then no longer exist.

[sheik yerbouty]

That will definately have a psychological effect on their poulation.

[MarkL]

I wonder if Sadam might let loose on Israel after there are US troops on the ground... If they retaliate with nukes, and there are US troops, and there are any injuries, all hell will break loose. I would bet that he's hoping that it would destroy the US/Israel alliance.

Mark

[blam]

"If they retaliate with nukes.

No-one will use nukes, they'll not be necessary.