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News analysis: Why US mulls new military strikes against Iraq? ========================================== Xinhuanet 2002-07-22 17:17:27 WASHINGTON, July 21 (Xinhuanet) -- The Bush administration has recently intensified its saber-rattling against Iraq, vowing to seek a "regime change" in the country and threatening to use forceif necessary. Backing up its rhetoric, the administration also stepped up efforts on the political, diplomatic and military fronts to prepare for an all-out war designed to topple the Iraqi governmentled by President Saddam Hussein, triggering widespread concerns and criticism among the international community. More than a decade after the 1991 Gulf War, Iraq regained the attention of the United States in November last year when the Afghan war came to a turning point last November with the seizure of the capital city of Kabul by the US-backed Northern Alliance. Heated debate began within the US over the next target in the phase two of the US-led global war against terrorism. Iraq, accused by Washington of developing weapons of mass destruction, has emerged top on the hit-list of the US. To make a solid case against Saddam, the Bush administration has not only doubled its efforts to demonize Iraq by listing the country in the "axis of evil" but also formulated a brand-new security doctrine that supports preemptive attacks against hostilestates or terrorists, in an apparent attempt to legitimize any future military strikes against the old rival. The administration also sent Vice President Dick Cheney and topPentagon officials to the region to seek support from the Arab world for U.S. military actions and persuade countries like Turkeyto allow Washington to use its military bases in the event of an all-out war with Iraq. While U.S. State Department officials are making frequent contacts with Iraq's opposition to discuss how to join hands in overthrowing President Saddam, the Pentagon is also working hard at plans aimed at a military invasion of Iraq. So, why the U.S. is working so hard to seek a regime change in Iraq? Analysts believe the foremost reason is that the September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington have triggered widespread concerns or even fears among Americans that if terrorists had access to weapons of mass destruction, they would not hesitate to use them against the US. In fact, perceiving the nexus between terrorists and weapons ofmass destruction as the most dangerous threat to the US, the Bush administration has made non-proliferation the top priority of the U.S. national security strategy. US intelligence agencies have repeatedly warned that Iraq, which may still hide some chemical and biological weapons from UN inspections, will have nuclear weapons capability in three to fiveyears. Although Baghdad has flatly rejected the U.S. allegations, those in the US who advocate a military invasion of Iraq deliberately stir the nerves of the American public by presenting the worst-case scenario when a hostile Iraq transfers such weaponsinto the hands of terrorists. Secondly, uneasy with Iraq's sympathy to the Palestinians, hard-liners inside and outside the Bush administration have accused Baghdad of supporting Islamic militants. The removal of President Saddam from the Iraqi leadership, someconservative US analysts say, will not only eliminate a long-running threat to Israel and US strategic interests in the region but also make the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict all the more easier. So it was by no means coincidental that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon trumpeted a similar argument when he visited Washington in the middle of last month. Thirdly, with many of its cabinet members having military backgrounds, the Bush administration enjoys a cozy relationship with such special interests groups as the war industry, which onlymake its foreign policy more belligerent. It may sound ironical but is true that by dumping its inventories in the Afghan war, the US war industry is almost the only economic beneficiary in the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy. According to US media reports, the employees of the US war industry are working round-the-clock to keep up inventories of smart weapons, such as laser-guided bombs, in preparations for a possible U.S. war with Iraq. Lastly, the Bush administration is facing increasing political pressure resulting from mishandling crucial intelligence related with the September 11 attacks and financial scandals involving Vice President Cheney. A hard-line policy towards or even military actions against Iraq will not only help the besieged administration to divert domestic political pressure but also increase the chance of Bush'sre-election in the future, some analysts said. Although the US is moving towards a military option in the caseof Iraq, the Bush administration insists publicly that it has yet to come to a final decision. But just as US media or even some US lawmakers have pointed out,it may be only a matter of time for the US to launch military strikes against Iraq. 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