Or is this the real thing. Are they next? To appreciate this cartoon besure to go the right of the cartoon to see the faces of those who might be NEXT!
Posted on 03/09/2002 4:42:37 PM PST by Pokey78
Britain considers joint invasion plan
America has asked Britain to draw up plans for 25,000 of this country's troops to join a US task force to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
In a move which reveals advanced US plans for the next phase of its war on terror, Government departments are considering the plans ahead of Vice-President Dick Cheney's meeting with the Prime Minister tomorrow.
Cheney will come to London armed with fresh evidence against the Iraqi dictator, and will tell Tony Blair that United Nations inspections of Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons may not be enough to head off a new war in the Gulf.
The request for such a large number of British troops shows the high stakes America is now playing for. It will alarm Cabinet doves, thought to include Clare Short, the International Development Secretary, and Robin Cook, the former Foreign Secretary and now Leader of the Commons.
The Government is already facing a split on the issue of military action against Iraq. One Minister described those who had questioned Blair's policy of fully backing a US military campaign as 'appeasers'.
'At some point people have to realise that action has to be taken,' he said.
The request for such a large number of troops is unprecedented in peacetime. It is one of three major options now being considered by the Government which has always insisted publicly that no final decisions have been made on military action against Saddam.
British troops would be part of a 250,000-strong ground force to invade Iraq in an operation similar to Desert Storm in 1991.
The second option is one where smaller special forces units would support opposition forces within Iraq, like the tactic used in Afghanistan, where the Northern Alliance was backed with air strikes and logistical support in its battle to overthrow the Taliban.
The third option - thought to be preferred by the Foreign Office - is one of 'aggressive containment'. Under this plan, air strikes against Iraq would be intensified if Saddam did not agree to a comprehensive inspections agree ment.
Cheney arrives in London ahead of a 10-day 'hearts and minds' tour of the Middle East which is seen as vital in shoring up the alliance against Iraq. After London he will visit Egypt, Israel, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Turkey.
America is confident that with enough evidence against Saddam, the White House can persuade other Arab states to support military action.
'I think they all have legitimate concerns about the regime in Iraq, and they're aware that Saddam continues to represent a threat to the security and stability of the region,' said one White House official. 'I expect they'll all want to talk about it.'
America has already begun a discreet military build-up in preparation for a ground war in Iraq. US special forces are training Iraqi militia to be ready for a strike against Saddam in the coming months.
Teams of instructors drawn from American elite regiments have been arriving in Kurdish-held areas in the north of Iraq in recent weeks, targeting the semi-autonomous areas run by the Kurdish Democratic Party.
The instructors are improving local fighters' tactical and weapons skills and teaching them how to exploit chaos caused by American air strikes. They are also drawing up lists of potential targets, a vital prerequisite to any ground offensive.
Defence sources say a battalion of 24 Longbow Apache attack helicopters also recently arrived in Kuwait. The helicopters, capable of operating up to 250 kilometres behind enemy lines, could be used to attack air defence sites and Iraqi armour in the opening air phase of any war.
In a separate development sources say more than 5,000 US fighting vehicles, mothballed in Kuwait since the end of the Gulf War, have quietly been overhauled.
Or is this the real thing. Are they next? To appreciate this cartoon besure to go the right of the cartoon to see the faces of those who might be NEXT!
I dunno OldFriend, this is some pretty intense saber rattling. Extreme, actually. Lieberman and Daschle and the other wimps and PC commies aside, our nation stands pretty much together and Britain is not so far behind. GE is itching to practice some more military manuvers beyond their borders, to sort of finally bury their past and become part of this effort to obliterate genuine monsters.
France, ho hum, Italy, YOU BET, and the rest, rather piece meal, but hey......Saddam cannot be a happy camper and must be feeling a bit like Osama (if that coward is around, still).
I see full inspections of Iraq on the drawing board.
However, this may be the impetus to get some around him to take him out to save the country.
They better cough up at least 50,000.
Travis, my co-worker's brother has been in Kuwait for about 4 months. His MOS is the kind of job that plans for movement of large amounts of people and equipment.
Of course we all expect to move our people through Kuwait, but I believe the hemming and hawing from Turkey about them not wanting to get in the middle of this (read no independent kurdish state) is just disinformation.
I think Turkey would love to have some of those Spruance Class destroyers we are decommisioning. They are a lot better than the knox class tin cans they are bobbing around in now.
I don't think Cheney would do it because it's beneath the dignity of the Office of V.P., but the underling will definitely be saying "Let's talk turkey".
I remember hearing these same fears during Desert Storm 1.
well said
These are equipped with the latest high-capacity armor killing spud guns. Saddam has no defense.
Peacetime? Hasn't anybody told them there's a war on?
My recollection is that Lieberman has been calling for the war to be taken to Iraq for months now.
No, not that, not 25,000 British troops! What's next? The comfy pillow?????????????
No, but then again, nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Be Seeing You,
Chris
I agree. The Guardian/Observer just wants some big-sounding number to be floated so that there will be a "debate" in Britian over whether they should be in on what's coming down. I'm not saying they just make up the news, but rather look for some blow hard who brags about having inside information, just like a tabloid does.
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