Britain: Iraq Has 'Military Plans'

AP ^ | Tue Sep 24, 3:21 AM ET | ED JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer

[SunStar]

Britain: Iraq Has 'Military Plans'

Tue Sep 24, 3:21 AM ET

By ED JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer

LONDON (AP) - Iraq has "military plans" for the use of chemical and biological weapons, Britain said Tuesday in a dossier of evidence about Iraq's development of weapons of mass destruction.

AP Photo

(Reuters)

The dossier says President Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites) directly controls chemical and biological weapons and has tried to acquire "significant quantities" of uranium from Africa.

The dossier says there is no doubt that Iraq continues to develop chemical and biological weapons, is trying to acquire nuclear weapons and has extended the range of its ballistic missiles.

The report said some of the weapons could be used within 45 minutes of an order being issued by Iraqi commanders.

The dossier was released hours before Parliament convened in a special session to debate possible military action against Iraq.

Iraq has learned from previous U.N. weapons inspections and is already taking steps to conceal its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction if U.N. inspectors return to the country, the dossier said.

"Saddam will now do his utmost to try to conceal his weapons from the U.N. inspectors," Prime Minister Tony Blair ( news - web sites) said in a preface to the report.

The report included a map which showed that Iraqi weapons now being developed could reach Israel, the whole of the Middle East, Greece and Turkey.

If U.N. sanctions against Iraq were lifted, Saddam could develop a nuclear weapon within 12 months to two years, said the dossier, which was based on intelligence assessments.

A report published earlier this month by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies said Iraq retains substantial chemical and biological weapons and could assemble a nuclear weapon within months if it obtained radioactive material.

Some lawmakers from Blair's Labor Party vowed to give the prime minister a rough ride when he addresses the House of Commons, and have published a counter-document, called "The dishonest case for war on Iraq."

"Tony Blair has been forced to recall parliament and reveal whatever evidence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction he has," said lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn. "The reality is this is a war about George Bush, arms and oil, and we will be questioning Blair very closely about why Britain cannot have a foreign policy independent of the U.S. administration."

Blair met with his Cabinet on Monday night to brief it on the dossier and said afterward that policies aimed at containing Saddam's growing arsenal of weapons had failed.

In an apparent effort to stem opposition to his Iraq policies at home, Blair also emphasized the need to continue trying to deal with the issue of disarming Iraq through the United Nations ( news - web sites).

International Development Secretary Clare Short, one of the most outspoken members of the British Cabinet, this weekend said it was dangerous to adopt a "cowboy and Indians way of looking at the world," where "we are the good guys and you are evil and we can go around the world and bomb anyone who gets in our way."

A poll in Tuesday's Guardian newspaper said 86 percent of Britons believe the government should seek the support of the British Parliament and the United Nations before taking military action against Iraq.

[MedicalMess]

it was dangerous to adopt a "cowboy and Indians way of looking at the world," where "we are the good guys and you are evil and we can go around the world and bomb anyone who gets in our way."

Hey... this policy works for me!

[TxBec]

Iraq has learned from previous U.N. weapons inspections and is already taking steps to conceal its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction if U.N. inspectors return to the country, the dossier said.

Who'd have thought they would do that? I'm shocked, just shocked, I tell you..

[Hatteras]

"International Development Secretary Clare Short, one of the most outspoken members of the British Cabinet, this weekend said it was dangerous to adopt a "cowboy and Indians way of looking at the world," where "we are the good guys and you are evil and we can go around the world and bomb anyone who gets in our way."

Unfortunately, these types are the ones that won't be convinced unless someone drives a plane into their child's daycare center. Even then, I'm not so sure they wouldn't search for some other excuse...

[Praxeologue]

A poll in Tuesday's Guardian newspaper

This is AP's version of a reliable source.

[MHGinTN]

When the Islamicists use bio or chemical weapons--given to them by Iraq in one form/way or another--to decimate the public buildings where governmental business is done, this 'peacenik/chamberlainesque woman will change her tune, IF she's still alive after the initial Islamicist assault on British society.

[Mr. Mojo]

Unfortunately, these types [Clare Short] are the ones that won't be convinced unless someone drives a plane into their child's daycare center. Even then, I'm not so sure they wouldn't search for some other excuse...

You're exactly right.....their tune would still be unlikely to change. It's much easier on the brain of sheep to go on "pretending the danger's not real." Roger Water's song "Sheep" (1977) describes these types perfectly:

Harmlessly passing your time in the grassland away
Only dimly aware of a certain unease in the air
You better watch out
There may be dogs about I've looked
over Jordan and I have seen
Things are not what they seem.

What do you get for pretending the danger's not real
Meek and obedient you follow the leader
Down well trodden corridors into the valley of steel
What a surprise!
A look of terminal shock in your eyes
Now things are really what they seem
No, this is not a bad dream.

[backspace]

"When the Islamicists use bio or chemical weapons--given to them by Iraq in one form/way or another--to decimate the public buildings where governmental business is done,..."


And she and the other pacifists will be calling for an investigation into why the U.S. didn't do anything to prevent it (even though "we deserved it").
These liberals are impossible!

[alethia]

About Clare Short -- I heard that she changed her tune once she'd reviewed the dossier. As a matter of fact, I recall that she stated that she and the other ministers in Blair's cabinet were "of one mind" or something to that effect after reviewing the information.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/756432/posts?page=30#30

As you can see, this film is about a German who was convicted of treason for selling nuclear weapon plans to Iraq, plans which Iraq could sell or pass on to other rogue states or entities. This goes far beyond the trading in military weapons, not beyond what Bernard Schwartz did, though.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[it was dangerous to adopt a "cowboy and Indians way of looking at the world," where "we are the good guys and you are evil and we can go around the world and bomb anyone who gets in our way." ]

More leftist moral equivalence nonsense. Saddam is no different than any other head of state. Sure.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Unfortunately, these types are the ones that won't be convinced unless someone drives a plane into their child's daycare center. Even then, I'm not so sure they wouldn't search for some other excuse...

They would sue the aircraft manufacturer.

[lwd]

So Ms. Short spouted off at the mouth without knowing the facts.

Sounds like what we've been hearing from the typical liberal...

Except maybe she is willing to admit the error of her ways.

[alethia]

You're so right, lwd. I hope that Al Gore keeps spouting. And wasn't it amazing that Dick Gephardt began taking some shots after Al Gore's little monologue. These dorks don't really understand the mood of the nation -- do they?

I think the President has kept the "best for last" with regard to intelligence information. I believe that there is much more proof linking Al Qaeda to Iraq -- and linking fissile material to Iraq. But I believe that detailing it could compromise critical intelligence sources. He'll only use it if he has to.