Posted on 03/20/2003 5:22:20 AM PST by wideawake
U.S. Attacks Baghdad With Missiles; Iraq Retaliates
Washington, March 20 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. forces attacked Iraq with cruise missiles in what commanders described as a plan to ``decapitate'' Saddam Hussein's leadership before an all-out assault to disarm the nation.
``These are the opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign'' attacking ``selected targets of military importance,'' President George W. Bush said on U.S. television. The war ``could be longer and more difficult than some predict.''
Targets in Baghdad were hit by as many as 40 cruise missiles, beginning a war that Bush has said was necessary because the 2001 terrorist strikes on New York and Washington forced the U.S. to take pre-emptive action against groups or countries that pose a threat. Bush and his chief ally, Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, say Hussein has scorned United Nations orders to destroy weapons of mass destruction.
Iraq fired two medium-range missiles with conventional warheads at northern Kuwait and they landed in the desert, Agence France-Presse said, citing the Kuwaiti Defense Ministry. Iraqi and U.S. troops also traded artillery fire, while American and British forces were ordered to wear protective suits in case of chemical or biological attacks.
A Patriot missile brought down an Iraqi scud north of Kuwait City, Sky News reported, citing a U.S. official. Two Iraqi battalions surrendered to U.S. forces in southern Iraq, Abu Dhabi television reported, citing U.K. military officials.
Terrorism Concerns
Hussein's program to develop weapons of mass destruction persisted after the 1991 Persian Gulf War and inspections by United Nations officials until 1998. Bush and Blair were concerned that Hussein would ally with terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, which organized the 2001 attacks. Countries such as France, Russia, China and Germany wanted inspections, which resumed in November, to continue, and argued that containing Hussein was better than attacking him.
More than 250,000 U.S. and U.K. troops are in the Persian Gulf region for what the U.S. calls Operation Iraqi Freedom. About 35 countries are providing ``crucial support'' such as the use of naval and air bases, Bush said.
The U.S. acted after receiving intelligence that Hussein would remain in a secret location in southern Baghdad for several hours, the Washington Post reported, citing an unidentified administration official's account of a briefing by Central Intelligence Agency chief George Tenet to Bush.
Aziz Tracked
The U.S. targeted the leaders after engineering reports yesterday that Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz had defected, Sky News reported, citing unidentified officials. The reports prompted Aziz to go on live television yesterday to prove his loyalty, allowing the U.S. to track the source of the transmission and follow Aziz's movements, Sky reported.
British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon described last night's attacks as ``preparatory operations'' and said U.K. forces were involved.
The dollar fell against the euro and the yen, and U.S. Treasury securities rose, because of Bush's comment about the duration of the war, while European stocks fell as oil shares declined.
Crude oil fell for a sixth session to a three-month low in London trading, on expectations the war will cause limited disruption of supplies from the Middle East. Brent crude for April settlement was down 45 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $26.30.
Oil Reserves
Iraq has the world's second-largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia and pumps about 3 percent of the world's oil. It is the third-largest producer in the Middle East and the sixth-largest supplier to the U.S.
Hussein appeared on Iraqi television about three hours after the attacks, which he called a ``shameful crime'' committed by ``the criminal junior Bush,'' according to a CNN translation. Iraq ``will confront the invaders'' and win, Hussein said. The footage had been edited, indicating it wasn't a live transmission. Nor was it clear whether the speaker was Hussein: he has used look-alikes in the past.
The attack was an ``act of stupidity,'' Information Minister Mohammed Sahaf said later at a news conference broadcast by CNN. International law doesn't apply to Iraq's enemies, he said.
Six U.S. Navy ships, including two attack submarines, fired as many as 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iraqi leadership targets, some in Baghdad, a senior Pentagon official said. The missiles fly at low altitudes and are guided to targets using global positioning system satellites. The Navy fired a total of 288 Tomahawks in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
`Bunker Busters'
Two U.S. Air Force F-117 aircraft struck Baghdad with four ``bunker buster'' bombs, NBC said, citing unidentified Pentagon officials.
The U.S. remains at its second-highest level of alert for terrorist attacks -- ``high risk'' -- with security tightened at airports, harbors, borders and chemical plants and airspace restricted around Washington, New York and other major cities.
Iraq for 12 years ignored UN mandates to get rid of its weapons of mass destruction, Bush says. Hussein has used chemical and biological weapons before and is willing to do so again and to share them with terrorists, U.S. officials have said.
Of the five permanent members of the Security Council, only the U.S. and Britain supported a war. France, Russia and China said UN weapons inspectors should be given more time and France vowed to veto any resolution endorsing war. China, Russia, Indonesia, France and Malaysia today said they opposed the U.S. strikes.
No Exile
``The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities, so we will rise to ours,'' Bush said in a March 17 speech in which he told Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq within 48 hours or face an invasion. That deadline expired at 8 p.m. U.S. Eastern time yesterday, 4 a.m. today Baghdad time. The attack began at about 5:40 a.m. local time.
Russia ``regrets'' the start of the war, Agence France-Presse reported after the attacks, citing an unidentified government official. Malaysia's Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the U.S. pre-emptive strike ``threatens the foundation of international law.''
BLAM
Nicely done!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.