US desperate to reassure Israel as Scud fears grow [Israel has Iraq in crosshairs]

The Scotsman | August 16, 2002 | Tim Cornwell

[mlocher]

thanks for the post. i have not read the scotsman before.

my take is that this article is another one that is trying to warn the west of what could happen if iraq is attacked. i guarantee that the us knows where most of the scuds are and if not can quickly locate them.

anything israeli ministers say about fighting back is for internal public consumption. colin powell and george bush know the real answer, whatever it is.

[HELLRAISER II]

I'm all for an attack on Iraq, but i'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the chain of events that might be triggered when it takes place. Israel would have every right to hit back and i'm sure that they would be generous with the amount of firepower that they send at Iraq. But who knows what stupid thing that the Arab & Muslims of the world do in response to the counter attack & so on & so on.

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

I would dispute that the US can do anything about the scuds. Mobile scuds would be almost impossible to find. They could be hiding inside buildings or even underneath underpasses. I beleive they have to be tilted upright before fueling with liquid oxygen. Even then, that could be concealed.
For that reason, the US strategy should plan for a chemical attack on Israel. I'm not sure what that strategy should be - thank goodness I don't have to make that decision. But I think if the casualties are low, Israel should respond with a few thousand sorties of conventional strikes. If the casualties are, say, in the several hundreds - then a nuclear strike on Baghdad should not be off the table.

[1bigdictator]

If you are a Muslim, you have startled me by your rational and enlightened perspective on this issue. No offense intended. Why haven't more Muslims like yourself surfaced... or have I been duped by your FR name?

[MrB]

This is the first I'd heard that the Patriots were ineffective in shooting down Scuds.

I really hope that the rest of the Arab world realizes that they would get their butt whipped if they pile on.

[alex]

I am sorry I do not understand what is all this fuss is about if Iraq (or any other Arab regime for the matter) is stupid enough to attack Israel, I think it will be a golden opportunity tro resolve most of ME problems once and for all and with Israel doing all heavy lifting. I do not think that it is going to happen, though.

[chiefqc]

The tough line from Tel Aviv ahead of a threatened US military action to topple Saddam may be a predictable one. But analysts are focusing on what happens to the "Arab street" in pro-Western Arab countries in the event that Israel is drawn into the war. In the Gaza strip yesterday, several hundred Palestinians staged a rally in support of Saddam, chanting: "Dear Saddam, bomb Tel Aviv."

Ah yes, the ever to be feared "arab street".

I'm begining to think this is another myth created by their coward leaders and their band of sewer dwellers.

They have no idea what it really means to get into a fight with the big boys.

A gun and a belt of TNT are not much help if the other guys are at 3000 feet in the air flying at 1200 MPH on bombing runs or they are hitting you with missles from 50 miles away.

Stop and think for a moment, how do you fight when you can't see them, can't hear them ( you will never hear the one that will take you out) you can't reach them and you most surely can not out fight them.

It would be like going to a knife fight and all you have is your mouth.

[HELLRAISER II]

Of course I agree with your assessment, it's just that i'm worried about Egypt, Iran & even some our supposed allies like France, Germany & Russia.

[carton253]

The Patriots did successfully shoot down the Iraqi scuds, but they did not destroy the warheads. Those warheads fell and exploded on local populations.

[carton253]

You aren't making Eqypt and Iran allies are you? Just asking.

[MrB]

warheads fell and exploded

That could be a BIG problem with chem/bio warheads.

[Aric2000]

No worries there.

Egypt and Iran would be 2nd and 3rd on the list for a couple of nukes, France and Germany would scream and cry a lot, but would whimp out.

Russia, believe it or not, I believe, would back Israel.

These Arabs have really no clue who they are dealing with.

They believe that they have god on their side and therefore invincible, Well, guys, got a clue for you. He's NOT and You're NOT.

We're gonna kick your butts to your 72 virgins in hell right quick!!

[carton253]

Yes...but should the fear of what might be stop us.

By that I mean... Saddam is getting these weapons. Some he has, some he does not. Those he does not have (mostly delivery systems) he is within a year or two of securing.

Do you attack now... or wait. Do you pay now... or pay later?

Does the fear of the unknown stop you from doing what needs to be done.

BTW, it would not be Patriots that would be deployed. New systems have come on line that are quicker, faster, and would destroy the scuds farther away.

The military expert on Fox News went into a huge explanation of the newest military toys we have. With the predator that could circle Iraq for 24 hours at a time, we would be able to pinpoint scuds as they begin the launch sequence...

I didn't understand it all, but it seemed to me that these new weapon systems would detect and fire sooner... exploding the scuds over Iraq instead of Israel.

[HELLRAISER II]

No, however the enemies of my enemies makes for some strange allies and let's face it everybody hates us.

[carton253]

Well not everyone... Israel likes us, and Britian likes us. And I think the Russians like us. Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Turkey seem to like us. Kuwait hates us in the papers, but like us when they think no one is watching. The same is true with Jordan. The Iranian people love us... the government hates us though... The 'Stans seem to like us okay. Tawain loves us! I think South Korea can be put into the "kinda like ya category."

Europe only hates us because its chic to do so. Let the Germans march through again, and they will love us again.

I think Italy likes us. Their new prime minister seemed to yes everything Bush was saying at the G8 meeeting.

I think we can count on the Irish too.

Other than that... I think everyone else fears us...

Good thing we aren't running for Miss Congeniality.

[HELLRAISER II]

I think we can Count on Austrailia & England. The rest will let us sink or swim on our own.

[HELLRAISER II]

Sorry, I forgot Israel of course.

[carton253]

Well... that may be true... but you can count on Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman... We are already there building up bases. These three seem to know the reality of what Saddam could do if loosed.
And I would count Turkey too...

[HELLRAISER II]

I think with Quatar, Bahrain & Oman that fear & the reality of the world of hurt that we(the U.S.) could put on them is what has netted us their ceoperation. They do not like us, but they do respect us.