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| International |
| Turks suggest Iraq allow inspectors back |
| 2002-02-03 |
"If you do not, the United States ... may consider an operation against Iraq, and the whole region will be dragged into war," the newspaper quoted the letter as saying. Iraqi newspapers on Saturday condemned "the dwarf Bush" as savage and aggressive and Iranian parliamentarians called him a threat to world peace and security. This is the latest step in the dance that will end up with Sammy doing the Mussolini in some square in Bagdad. Bush and Rumsfeld are probably hoping that the example and the pressure of being on the same list will help the Iranian moderates establish themselves. Saddam Hussein ought to consider the implications of the latest US Defense budget requests. While the Bush administration may be less reluctant to expose US servicemembers to the dangers of becoming casualties than the Clinton administration, what is really different is the willingness to bet the barn on spending enough to finance a significant long term war effort. The size and scope of the increase requests are pretty dramatic, and may be especially dramatic considering the emphasis on introducing next generation technology in several weapons systems and revamping the US command and control structure. Iraq or Iran were 15 years behind the US in 1990, and the interim has not been kind to the Iraqi armed services. Revolutions in military technology and doctrine are exponential in their effects if one side persists in never addressing those revolutionary influences, and Iraq and Iran last fought themselves to a standstill using WW I tactics. The implications of this were clear in the Gulf War when the Iraqi Army fell apart. Why should events unfold more beneficially for Hussein in 2002-3? |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |