----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2000 5:34 PM Subject: [iac-disc.] Time for a big-time attack on Iraq? (Iraq must be due for a large-scale assault. Increased bombing will come when it will best give Al Gore a bump in the polls.) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGIXHWTKGBC.html -- Aug 3, 2000 - 11:37 AM Officer: U.S. Suspects Iraq Has Resumed Arms Program By Hamza Hendawi Associated Press Writer CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - The United States suspects that Iraq has taken advantage of the absence of U.N. arms inspectors to rebuild its arsenal of mass-destruction weapons, a senior U.S. officer said Thursday. "The absence of U.N. arms inspectors since November 1998 is of concern," said Gen. Tommy R. Franks, who took over the Florida-based Central Command last month. Officials aren't sure what Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been doing in the inspectors' absence, but the United States thinks he may have resumed his arms buildup, Franks said. "I would say that in the past he has provided every indication that he would use all resources available to him to pursue weapons of mass destruction," he said. Franks' remarks came one day after Richard Butler, the former chairman of the now-defunct U.N. weapons inspection agency, said in Washington that Saddam has been developing weapons of mass destruction since inspectors left in November 1998. They pulled out shortly before the United States and Britain began air strikes meant to punish Iraq for failing to cooperate with the inspections. The United Nations imposed sanctions on Iraq nearly a decade ago in the wake of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The sanctions are to remain in place until Iraq satisfies the United Nations that it no longer has weapons of mass destruction, long-range missiles or the capability to manufacture both. But Iraq has refused to cooperate with inspectors checking its weapons capacity. A new U.N. inspection agency approved by the Security Council is expected to be ready for duty in about a month, but Iraq has said it won't work with the new team either. Franks told reporters in Cairo that the United States will continue to support the U.N. sanctions. It is up to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to get the sanctions removed by abiding by U.N. resolutions, he said. Franks' command is responsible for patrolling the no-fly zone over southern Iraq, imposed after Saddam put down revolts by Shiite Muslim Iraqis after the 1991 Gulf War. Franks was in Cairo as part of a regional tour following his appointment last month. He had previously been the head of the army component of the Central Command. AP-ES-08-03-00 1137EDT � Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Support Antiwar.com http://Antiwar.com and also the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space http://www.space4peace.org + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Make nonviolent peace. Speak truth to power. Pray for one another. Be merciful. Love your enemies. Forgive those who've hurt you. Come Lord Jesus Christ. Deo Gratias.+ --------------------------------------------------------------------<e|- Free, Unlimited Calls Anywhere! Conference in the whole family on the same call. Let the fights begin! Visit Firetalk.com - Click below. http://click.egroups.com/1/5476/6/_/790251/_/965320484/ --------------------------------------------------------------------|e>- ------------------------------------------------- *** Iraq Action Coalition Discussion Forum *** http://iraqaction.org/discussion.html ------------------------------------ *To Post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *To Subscribe, send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * To see the List Guidelines, go to: http://iraqaction.org/discussion.html *Any questions, contact the List Moderator at [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----------------------------------------------
