Paper Expects Iraq Strikes To Resume 'End of This Month' London Al-Quds al-'Arabi in Arabic 21 Jan 99 p 19 The British and U.S. moves -- both political and military -- have begun, aimed at preparing the ground for new strikes against Iraq now that the undeclared truce imposed by the holy month of fasting has ended. On the military front, the buildup continues and the British aircraft carrier Invincible is expected to reach the region early this [as published] month to join its U.S. counterpart and over 30 warships and naval units. On the political front, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt will be the most important visit because it will define the nature of and the date for the next strikes and define the role of the Arab quarters involved in it. The British Foreign Office yesterday announced that British officials including Defense Secretary George Robertson and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook will make a similar visit to the region after their expected meeting in London with Albright at the end of this month to work out the fine details of the joint move against Iraq. It is no coincidence that U.S. President Bill Clinton announced yesterday that his country intends to change the Iraqi regime and give financial and military support to seven Iraqi opposition factions. It is also no coincidence that British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Derek Fatchett announced that his government intends to organize Iraqi opposition meetings in London in the coming days. It is clear that the air strikes will resume at the end of this month and early next month, and all the talk about initiatives to ease the embargo imposed on Iraq is purely deception and an attempt to throw dust in the eyes. Fatchett believes that Desert Fox has weakened the regime and believes in the need to discuss the situation with the allies after this operation. What can be understood from the gist of the British minister's remarks is that air strikes are the best way to weaken the regime and that is why he believes that they must resume, and that "legitimate" Arab support for them must be secured. It seems that this task has been entrusted to Albright. It is ironic that the U.S. secretary of state's visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt next Tuesday should remind us of a similar visit undertaken by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, one that led to the arrival of U.S. troops in the Arabian Peninsula in August 1990. It is also ironic that the resumption of the aggression against Iraq will occur during the same period as the first aggression eight years ago, that is the month of February. The web of conspiracy against Iraq and the Arab nation as a whole is being woven with extreme care, and the same goes for the allocation of parts to the colluding Arab governments. The purpose of next Sunday's Arab foreign ministers meeting will not be to express solidarity with Iraq and its people but to bless the new aggression. Editorial Views US -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] *********************************************************************** BIOWAR-L Biowar/Bioterrorism/Toxins Mailing List To unsubscribe or subscribe: send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the following text: unsubscribe BIOWAR-L or subscribe BIOWAR-L. Post to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Archive: <http://www.sonic.net/~west/digest.htm>. BIOWAR Web site: <http://www.sonic.net/~west/biowar.htm>. -Wes Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
