Posted on 06/30/2002 2:23:21 PM PDT by kattracks
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jun 30, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- President Saddam Hussein has praised Iraqi military scientists for making a "new and important scientific achievement" to upgrade Iraqi defense systems. "We are not surprised when you (the scientists) say you can accomplish any task," Saddam told a group of military commanders and researchers, according to a report in Sunday's official al-Iraq newspaper.
"The policies of big countries are those of (self) interest. So, we have to depend on ourselves to reach our goals," Saddam reportedly said.
The report did not provide specific details about the "new and important scientific achievement" Saddam referred to, except to say it "would strengthen Iraq's capabilities in defending its skies and territories."
Since the 1991 Gulf War, U.S. and British warplanes have patrolled "no fly" zones over northern and southern Iraq, regularly drawing fire from Iraqi air defense systems.
Saddam also urged Iraqis to be ready for the possibility of U.S. attacks on their country.
"We, along with the Palestinians, are subjected to ongoing aggression," Saddam said. "So we should be on alert all the time and be quick in confronting the enemy."
U.S. government policy is to achieve "regime change" in Iraq. President George W. Bush has made it clear that this could mean military action to topple Saddam.
America wants Iraq to let United Nations weapons inspectors into the country to verify it has dismantled its weapons of mass destruction, necessary for U.N. economic sanctions against the Arab country to be lifted. Baghdad denies it possesses any such weapons.
Bush has warned Saddam of "unspecified consequences" if he does not allow the inspectors into Iraq.
The sanctions were imposed following the war, which was sparked by Iraq's 1990 invasion of neighboring Gulf state Kuwait and its seven-month occupation of the tiny, oil-rich state.
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
Didn't they notice that the overflying planes introduced glitches into their network of cellphone cells? IIRC, someone came up with a software program that analyzed the patterns of disruptions & turned them into a rough airplane tracking system.
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