Posted on 09/08/2002 5:31:28 PM PDT by knak
The four trucks moved under the cover of darkness, each hauling the block-like shape of a mobile Scud missile-launcher into the western deserts of Iraq, from where they could target Israel.
As the Herald drove from Baghdad to Amman on Friday night, the convoy of Saddam Hussein's most feared missiles loomed out of the night as another piece of his defence plan being set up in the face of an imminent United States attack.
At the end of the 1991 Gulf War international forces set about destroying all of the Iraqi President's long-range Scud missiles, but he is thought to have retained about 20 of them and dozens of chemical and biological warheads which, on their mobile launchers, are difficult to track.
Visits by the Herald to the north-west, west and south of Iraq in the past two weeks have revealed frenetic defence preparations, including construction of hardened concrete shelters at a remote airbase in the desert near the Syrian border.
A dozen jet fighters were parked at the base as our Russian-build helicopter put down for fuel.
That flight, and a subsequent road journey to Basra in the south, revealed major earthworks along highways and around vital facilities, providing cover for tanks facing any force moving on Baghdad.
As well, emergency fuel dumps, military vehicles and supplies were being placed in extensive excavations that appeared to have been freshly dug on the outskirts of the capital and other centres.
The Iraqi preoccupation is with Baghdad, where diplomats report that members of the regime are now stockpiling food, medicine and fuel.
On the drive to Basra on Wednesday, two military convoys were seen heading north - one of 14 trucks towing huge cannons, and the other comprising half-a-dozen low-loaders hauling T-72 tanks.
Much Iraqi equipment shows signs of the chronic shortage of spare parts, but the missile-launchers, tanks and armoured vehicles seen around the country appeared to be in good condition.
As well, the troops were not moving with the indolence displayed by some in the past.
As we went deeper into the south, there was also a new energy about the military posts set up by Baghdad after the 1981-88 war with Iran.
For years most had been manned by little more than one armed soldier, but last week several had new Japanese pick-ups with anti-aircraft guns mounted and others had multiple rocket-launchers.
The majority also had a light tank or armoured personnel carrier and as many as 30 or 40 uniformed men on duty.
Elaine Dickinson: When will you be back?
Ted Striker: I can't tell you that. It's classified.
--Boris
Really! If it were good intelligence, why would he know it? I imagine that any real movements are being tracked pretty well, but not by the media.
Paging Dr. Richard Kimball, Dr. Richard Kimball.
The French have already surrendered.
Yes, they did.
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