Iraqi FM tells French TV his country lacks means to attack Israel

The Jerusalem Post ^ | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[anotherview]

Feb. 13, 2003
Iraqi FM tells French TV his country lacks means to attack Israel
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PARIS - Iraqi Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz said in a televised interview Thursday that his country lacks the means to launch a military operation against Israel should a conflict erupt.

"We don't have the means to attack Israel that we had in 1991," Aziz told France-2 television, referring to the year that the Gulf War took place. "We aren't a threat to anyone."

"We can't talk of reprisals when we don't have the means," Aziz said, speaking in an interview live from Rome, where he was to meet with Pope John Paul II.

The IDF is preparing for an expected US attack to begin in the coming weeks, and is taking precautions against the possibility that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein will again fire Scud missiles at Israel, as he did in the 1991 Gulf War.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said there was only a small chance that Saddam would target Israel.

In 1991, Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at Israeli towns and cities, causing great damage and fear, but few casualties. At the time, Israel distributed gas masks to residents and called on people to seal rooms to protect against a possible biological or chemical strike. However, all the Iraqi missiles carried conventional warheads.

[anotherview]

I'm sure the French will believe him. So will the Belgians, the Germans, and maybe the Russians. Thankfully, just about everyone else trusts the Iraqis about as far as they can throw France.

[Petronski]

After all, we haven't attacked Israel. What more proof do you need?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Ya know what Rush says about those dope-smoking maggot-infested phoey-baloney plastic-banana good-times rock-n-roll FM types...

[rintense]

Of course the French will believe him.

[mhking]

Iraqi Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz said in a televised interview Thursday that his country lacks the means to launch a military operation against Israel should a conflict erupt.

Don't believe him. Don't trust him.

[jerseygirl]

sneaky, sneaky, sneaky--Saddam moved much of his good stuff into Syria

[steveegg]

"We don't have the means to attack Israel that we had in 1991," (Iraqi foreign minister Tariq) Aziz told France-2 television, referring to the year that the Gulf War took place. "We aren't a threat to anyone."

"We can't talk of reprisals when we don't have the means," Aziz said, speaking in an interview live from Rome, where he was to meet with Pope John Paul II.

Then Tariq, you won't mind when we forcibly ensure that you don't have that means.

Seriously, I've got a nice, long bridge to sell anyone who believes this pap.

[ncooper777]

well of course they don't have conventional weapons........now they have biological, chemical and poss nuclear to launch now. You don't need 39 scuds with those just ONE well placed. If he attacks Isreal, America can relax and pull back, and enjoy the slaughter! Isreal will destroy Bagdad, more than we will. they will kill everything that moves!

[Moonman62]

Of course the French will believe him.

They'll believe him, and they'll also be very disappointed.

[Luna]

"We don't have the means to attack Israel that we had in 1991," Aziz told France-2 television, referring to the year that the Gulf War took place. "We aren't a threat to anyone."

"We can't talk of reprisals when we don't have the means," Aziz said, speaking in an interview live from Rome, where he was to meet with Pope John Paul II.

Hey, Aziz, tell us another one!! He must have attended the Der Schlickmeister School of Fibbing.

[UncleSamUSA]

Of course the French will believe him, but they will also get the subtle implication in his words:

"We dont have the capacity to attack Israel this time -- but IF WE DID we sure as Allah would attack em again."

BTW, the reason they will probably not attack Israel this time is mainly because they know that the US is not exerting pressure on Israel to forego a response. And they know that this time, Israel will reply with full force and no scruples about the need for "nation building".

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

There is no truth to the rumor that Tarik Azziz had a brother named Gumda who died of complications from gingivitis.

[knak]

I just had to post this from November 30, 2001:

NICOSIA [MENL] -- For the first time since 1990, Iraq has warned that it could launch a missile attack against Israel if the United States attacks the regime of President Saddam Hussein.

"We always expect evil and aggression from the American administration," Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan told the Doha-based A-Jazeera satellite television. "Our preparations are always in place. Any nation that has attacked has the right to defend itself by any means. This is a legimate right."

Ramadan did not mention Israel. But when asked whether Iraq would attack Israel, the vice president said Baghdad would not rule out any target.

At the same time, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein met air force chiefs to discuss what the official Iraqi News Agency termed were recent Israeli threats. The meeting took place as Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries fired on U.S. and British jets that flew over the northern provinces of Irbil and Dohuk. The provinces are part of the unofficial Kurdish autonomous zone.

IRAQ WARNS OF ATTACK ON ISRAEL

[anotherview]

It doesn't matter how transparent or obviously contradictory a lie by Iraq is. It doesn't matter how many chemical weapons they have, or how many nuclear dossiers the inspectors find, or how far their weapons can go. Heck, they could find a nuke and it wouldn't matter. The French will still believe the Iraqis, and the Germans will want to "avoid war at any cost", and the Belgians will love anyone who hates Jews.

[knighthawk]

What is France going to do now? Sell Iraq new weapons so they can attack Israel? Another nuclear facility?

Glad Israel bombed off those French-Iraqi plans.