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U.S. Sees Hints of ’Unrest’ in Iraqi Leadership
U.S. intelligence has picked up "indications about unrest" among Iraqi leaders faced with possible war with U.S.-led forces, the Pentagon's top general said on Wednesday, without offering any evidence. Myers, chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there were hints some of Saddam's senior supporters might be cracking under the pressure from the United States and Britain for Iraq's president to step down."There are some indications about unrest in some of the Iraqi leadership. But just hints. We have not seen anything (about) purges" by Saddam, Myers said. More stories like this that are floated, and there will be. And isn't that the point of the whole exercise? Bwahhahaha! Declining to provide details or to say how Washington had obtained such hints of any unrest, the general said the United States had seen only small troop movements in Iraq but nothing unusual "and nothing to show that the military hierarchy isn't responding to orders." Hint! Myers said Saddam had taken steps to ensure support among military leaders. "We know, I think, that the regime has taken measures to enforce loyalty ... extra measures by populating some of the major (military) units with people they consider loyal," he told reporters. Saddam's close relatives and clan members. He falls, they swing. Myers, speaking as the U.S. and British militaries continued to send tens of thousands of troops, warships and aircraft to the Gulf, cautioned against assuming that the United States would not launch an attack in Iraq's brutal summer heat beginning in late April or May. "No. Weather is not a factor. We have talked about this a great deal," he said in response to questions. He noted that such combat would be difficult, particularly if U.S. and British troops had to don restrictive suits for protection against potential biological or chemical attack. "We have discussed this at great length with General (Tommy) Franks and the service chiefs and the combat commanders and there is no doubt that -- no matter what time of year -- we can fight and prevail," Myers said. Franks is head of the U.S. military's Central Command and would preside over any war with Iraq. "We will do better in that (summer desert) environment than any potential adversary. Not that we're going to wait that long. And part of that is enabled by the fact that we can fight at night," said Myers. "We are as good at night as we are in the daytime. That is not true of most forces and it would give us a tremendous edge." One week from now, two at the most. Posted by: Steve 2003-01-22 |
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