Israel Warns of Chemical and Biological War if U.S. Attacks Iraq

Jerusalem Post ^ | 11/28/2001 | Ellis Shuman

[ex-Texan]

Security officials warn of unconventional Iraqi attack

By Ellis Shuman

Senior Israeli security officials believe that if the United States would attack Iraq, threatening the stability of Saddam Hussein's regime, he would respond by launching a chemical or biological attack on Israel.

"If attacked, Iraq is liable to launch missiles and planes against Israel," said Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon in a lecture on Monday. Security officials believe that due to its shortage of long-range missiles and launchers, estimated at no more than five launchers and some 50 missiles, Iraq could send pilots on suicide missions towards Israel in planes armed with unconventional weapons.

During the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel, all armed with conventional explosives. Military analysts believe that Iraq now has very limited surface-to-surface missile capabilities. According to American intelligence reports, Iraq has recently resumed missile deployment exercises, hinting at its possible response if attacked.

The IDF General Staff this week discussed the various scenarios that could follow an American strike on Iraq. Security officials assume that the attack on Iraq could occur in two or three months, when military actions in Afghanistan are completed.

The brainstorming came following President George W. Bush's warning on Monday that Hussein must allow arms inspectors back into the country "to prove to the world he's not developing weapons of mass destruction.'' Iraq isn't afraid of American threats and is ready to defend itself against any attack, Iraq's Ambassador to the UN said the following day.

Israel did not respond to the Iraqi attacks during the Gulf War, bending to American pressure not to break up the American coalition lined up against Saddam. The situation is different now, said MK Moshe Arens (Likud), who served as defense minister during the 1991 war. Arens referred to Israel's Arrow anti-missile system, developed together with the United States.

"I think Israel can be pleased that the U.S. is turning its attention to a danger which faces not only Israel, but also the entire world," Arens told Israel Radio, referring to Saddam's attempts to acquire non-conventional weapons.

Syria has chemical missile capabilities "The Syrian army has type 'B' and 'C' Scud missiles, some of them equipped with chemical warheads," Yaalon said on Monday. "These missiles have a range of 500 kilometers, covering most of the area of the State of Israel," he added.

"The goal of Syria remains the return of the Golan Heights," Yaalon said. "The Syrians are hesitant of confronting the IDF directly," he said, attributing this to fears its army is inferior to the IDF. "They prefer to develop a deterrent force with the Scud missiles, Hizbullah-launched terror actions and encouragement of Palestinian terror."

Yaalon warned that an all-out war with Syria could result from the "explosive confrontation with the Hizbullah on Israel's northern border."

[Timesink]

Like whether or not we attack will stop Iraq from eventually doing this anyway.

Exactly. Here's my scenario: While it hasn't been much reported anywhere (except on FR), there are already internal attacks on Saddam's regime happening on a daily basis. These are Iraqi citizens fighting back (usually through bombing of Saddam's palaces, military, and the like), not American stooges. My guess is that pretty soon, one of these uprisings is going to be a little more successful than ususal, and will get a little more international media attention. And Saddam is just waiting for this moment, so he can pronounce it an "American attack on Iraqi sovereignty" or some such BS, and then take aim at Israel.

Of course, as we all know, and chemical or bio attack on Israel will be met with nuclear retaliation. So hopefully the whole thing will take place without an ounce of US help being needed, without a drop of US blood being spent, and without the US having to take one iota of the blame.

(Yes, I really do think Saddam is just nuts enough to try something like this.)

[Patria One]

Question: Who is the ONLY country in the ME that has actually been caught with SARIN gas?

[BnBlFlag]

Isn't it amazing that we have equipped Israel with an anti missle defense system yet have none of our own? Whats up with this?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Like whether or not we attack will stop Iraq from eventually doing this anyway.

Correct. This is a cup which cannot pass from our lips or those of the Israelis. Doing nothing to Iraq emboldens Hussein. Iraq must be attacked. Period.

[Pharmboy]

Well...it will no doubt get uglier afore it gets better. But, who knows what the best short-term outcome will be? War with eye-rack? Where do the Iranis fit in? Can the Israelis sit things out like they did during Gulf War I?

[Thinkin' Gal]

Iraq needs a new flag. This one would look nice:

Jerusalem	Baghdad	Damascus
Mecca	Beirut	Cairo
Tripoli	Amman	Tehran

[martian_22]

A lot of us have known this since day one when Iraq responded to the "with us or against us" overture of the US. What do their latest words and actions indicate?

Iraq has shaken that dubious trump card at us and I believe they will use it when we attack. I guarantee you if any group of Jews dies from just one poison gas scud attack - Israel will go bonkers and retaliate, no matter how strongly we urge them to use restraint.

Just my opinion.

[zog]

--israel has an armaegeddon policy if they face destruction-because it's a human characteristic. Saddam probably thinks similar. One of the main reasons that they stopped stormin norman short of baghdad. He'll let er rip if it looks like he's a goner gomer anyway. What's he got to lose at that point then? Suffer massive destruction and bombardment? if he's facing that anyway, knowing it's for keeps and the finale, he could- and probably would- go completely apesquat. Not only from his country, but from sleepers and sympathisers. The us has picked up less than a thousand possibles, wanna bet there's tens of thousands that would go over the edge if they choose to at some point if very large mid east countries start being wiped out? HAHAHAHA! I'd guess they would! I ain't forgetting the OKC blast, the first and second wtc blast attacks, and knowing that there's still thousands over here. As long as it's just this once in awhile air raid deal over there, he'll probably not do a whole lot, he thinks it's a quid pro quo back and forth, but if he's threatened with complete loss of power and his life this time, unlike the first gulf war, I think he'll go for broke, without any regard for the consequeneces at that point.

[backhoe]

Keep this link handy, and pass it along to others:

Nuclear, Biological, & Chemical Warfare- Survival Skills, Pt. II

[Fred25]

Oh, excuse me. I must have gotten on an Israel First message board by mistake. I was searching for an America First message board.

[Patria One]

Oh, so you do want the US to fight a war that will give Israel sovereignty over the whole Arab world.

Too bad Ness Oil didn't pan out.

[Endeavor]

Like Iraq wouldn't use them anyway? We are at war. The enemy will use whatever it can get its hands on. Surely our people realize that by now.

[AAABEST]

Question: Who is the ONLY country in the ME that has actually been caught with SARIN gas?

V-nerve is very nasty stuff too. I'd rather be exposed to anything else ...anthrax, small pox, even nuclear radiation than get a dose of V.

People or animals who are exposed to it die the worst kind of death. Saddam and his V-nerve need to be gotten rid of.

[PurVirgo]

.....now wiping mountain dew off my monitor..... for real..... .....still laughing on the way to the kitchen for some towels.......

[Patria One]

HINT: EL AL crash, Holland, 1993.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

This is one reason iraq needs to be elimanted

[Faraday]

Put yourself in the position of a colonel in the Iraqi army.

Based upon the experience of the Gulf War, there appears no way that you can stand up to Western military power and tactics. Losses will be massive, "highway-of-death" type. Recent experience in Afghanistan suggests that the Americans may not even have to put large numbers of troops on the ground, but may be able to rely mainly on Shi'ite and Kurdish ground forces. This, of course, could lead not only to the slaughter of your troops, but your family. (Arab brothers are not so refined as Americans regarding the Geneva Convention.)

The chemical/bio weapon option is Saddam's only card to play. But it has to be a bluff. If he uses it, the Israelis will nuke--and everyone knows it. But Saddam is quickly running out of time, with no better options on the horizon.

If I were such an officer, I would swallow hard and try to find some kindred souls and begin to prepare to remove Saddam in the near future. How about you?

[Patria One]

Y'all never seem to tire of being drug around the may pole by the Israeli press.

[LincolnLover]

"Yaalon warned that an all-out war with Syria could result from the "explosive confrontation with the Hizbullah on Israel's northern border."

This hints at what I suspect are Israeli war aims if the shooting starts-drive into Jordan, stopping just west of Amman and declaring the territory fit for usage for a contiguous Palestinian state and a drive into Lebanon to "liberate" this Syrian puppet-state from almost 2 decades of de facto foreign rule.

If war comes to the region, the Israelis will secure their borders once and for all.