-Caveat Lector- http://www.worldtribune.com/Archive-2001/me-iraq-02-26.html Saddam's deployment during Powell visit brought region to brink of war SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM Friday, March 2, 2001 WASHINGTON Iraq responded to U.S. air strikes on Feb. 16 by deploying thousands of troops from six divisions to positions near the Jordanian border, triggering military alerts in Tel Aviv, Washington and in several Gulf capitals. Western diplomatic sources said that in response, Israeli air force jets flew toward Syria and U.S. and British warplanes attacked Iraqi targets near Mosul on Feb. 23. The Iraqi troop movements were then halted. U.S. defense sources said the deployment ordered by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein included military vehicles and artillery. Iraqi surface-to-surface missile batteries were not seen but were believed being prepared for operations. The Iraqi deployment was a key issue during the visit to Israel by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell last weekend, Middle East Newsline reported. "We are talking about a worrisome development that comes despite our attacks on Saddam's anti-aircraft batteries," a U.S. defense source said. "It appears we are dealing with a man who is not afraid and could act on moment's notice." The sources said Saddam's troop deployment near the Jordanian and Syrian border appeared to constitute a message to the Bush administration. They said the deployment was ordered after the first attack on Iraqi aircraft batteries around Baghdad on Feb. 16. This was the third time since October that Saddam has moved troops near the Jordanian and Syrian border. In late January, Saddam withdrew most of his troops from the western border area and returned them to their bases in Baghdad. On Sunday, Israeli warplanes flew twice over Beirut. In an unusual move, the Israeli military acknowledged the overflights as Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon threatened to bomb Syrian targets in Lebanon. Arab allies of the United States, however, expect additional demonstrations of strength from Saddam. They said several Gulf states have raised what defense sources termed a "Saddam surprise" with U.S. officials. So far, the sources said, U.S. and British air strikes have done little damage to Iraqi air defense systems. They said Iraq has developed the capability of sheltering batteries as well as quickly repairing damage. Pentagon spokesman Craig Quigley acknowledged that U.S. air strikes on Iraqi air defense systems have not produced permanent damage. "Is it permanent?" Quigley asked. "No. You can replace or repair systems such as these that have been damaged." At the same time, however, Iraqi opposition sources are believed to have bombed a section of Baghdad on late Saturday. Iraq has acknowledged the attack and blamed Israel and the United States. One Iraqi was reported injured. The Saddam regime is estimated to have up to 25 SAM-3 and 10 SAM-6 batteries, bolstered by French surveillance radars. Baghdad is known to have produced Thomson-CSF radars under license, systems that were later upgraded by Chinese, Russian and Yugoslav experts. Baghdad also has the Volex radar, which underwent a recent upgrade. Saddam plans additional upgrades and has expanded his effort to obtain advanced technology and weapons components. The London-based Sunday Telegraph said Saddam has expanded Iraq's embassies in Belarus and Russia and a brigadier general will head a new military intelligence bureau in Moscow. The newspaper said Russian radar and missile equipment have been smuggled into Iraq from Iran. 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