-Caveat Lector-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,629693,00.html
Key US hawk softens line on Iraq strike
Matthew Engel in Washington
Wednesday January 9, 2002
The Guardian
The Bush administration appeared to drop a strong hint yesterday that
an invasion of Iraq was off its immediate agenda following comments
by the Pentagon's leading hawk, the deputy defence secretary, Paul
Wolfowitz.
He told the New York Times that the main focus of America's war on
terror remained Afghanistan, but suggested that future plans would
centre on denying terrorists safe haven in countries where they had
been operating freely in certain areas.
He mentioned the familiar foursome of Somalia, Yemen, Indonesia and
the Philippines.
"Obviously Somalia comes up as a possible candidate for al-Qaida people to flee to,
precisely because the government is weak or non-existent," Mr Wolfowitz said.
His remarks included the ritualised Washington warning to President Saddam Hussein,
who, he said, was "keeping his head down". But he added: "That should not leave the
impression he doesn't continue to do a bunch of thing
s that concern us."
However, the absence of any direct threat to the Iraqi leader was interpreted by the
New York Times and some analysts in Washington as marking a retreat from the notion of
direct military intervention.
The interview comes less than a week after the state department said that it was
halting funds to the main opposition group to President Saddam, the Iraqi National
Congress. It said the INC had failed to account properly
for previous grants.
The INC has insisted that it will refile its accounts in time to meet a deadline of
January 15, and claimed that it had been punished by elements in the state department
opposed to invading Iraq. However, the move made it
far less credible that the INC and the US were preparing to be partners in a major
military expedition.
Mr Wolfowitz is regarded as the main advocate for action against President Saddam
within the administration, alongside Richard Perle, the chairman of the
quasi-governmental defence policy board.
There is clear sympathy for many of his ideas, but there has been no sign that they
have ever been accepted at the most senior levels, given the political, diplomatic and
military obstacles.
The plan to use the INC as the means to topple the regime has been derided as a
potential "Bay of Goats" by Anthony Zinni, the retired US marine corp general who is
the president's envoy to the Middle East.
Newsweek reported this week that the joint chiefs had been studying a plan that would
put 50,000 US troops on Iraq's northern and southern borders, but added that planners
doubted that even this level of force would be su
fficient to capture Baghdad.
Lieutenant-General Paul Mikolashek, the commander of US ground forces in the region,
is on record as believing that it would require something like the much larger number
of American and allied troops used in Operation De
sert Storm to stand any chance of overthrowing the regime.
"Everyone would like to get rid of Saddam and nobody's got a good idea how to do it,"
said Judith Kipper, an Iraq expert at the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies.
"This president cannot afford to do anything in Iraq unless there's a 100% guarantee
of success. If he goes in and fails to get the guy, he would destroy his own legacy,
and that of his father."
Ms Kipper believes that President Saddam is currently focused on a domestic agenda -
in particular, ensuring his dynastic succession - and will do his utmost to avoid
foreign adventures which might give the US an excuse f
or invasion.
She also considers domestic political dangers to be another major
reason why President Bush cannot order an attack.
"If there was a credible military or CIA strategy, then he'd do it.
But there isn't and there can't be," Ms Kipper said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled
one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller,
German Writer (1759-1805)
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that
prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless
of frontiers."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
