<< [Defense Minister Shaul] Mofaz has presented U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld a report about Iraqi support of terror. Saddam Hussein's regime, the report contends, continues to allocate grants of about $25,000 apiece to families of suicide strikers. The Iraqi grant is about eight times larger than subsidies provided by Saudi Arabia to families of Palestinian casualties. >>
Ha'aretz Sunday, December 22, 2002 IDF quickens pace in its preparations for U.S. war in Iraq `Window' of possible dates opens at end of Jan. By Amos Harel and Nathan Guttman Israel Defense Forces units and security officials are stepping up exercises and war games, in preparation for the expected American attack on Iraq. Last week, the Home Front Command conducted a large exercise, and a major emergency war game drill is to be held this week, in conjunction with local councils and the Israel Police. Last week's drill, one of the largest Home Front exercises ever undertaken, simulated the landing of missiles bearing chemical or biological materials at various sites in the country. The exercise tested the use of watchposts in the rapid detection of sites where missiles fall. Sources in the IDF Home Front Command report that the exercise was rated a success, and that its various stages and maneuvers were carried out relatively quickly. Home Front officers expect that pressure will mount at gas mask distribution centers around the country. They expect that inquiries about, and requests for, kits will rise sharply in response to accelerated U.S. preparation for an attack against Iraq. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz will visit Home Front headquarters this week, to monitor preparations for possible escalation in the Persian Gulf. In consultations last week between Mofaz and senior U.S. officials, the Americans outlined the "window" of dates between which they believe the Iraq operation is to be conducted. This is a period stretching between the end of January and the end of February. Israeli security officials hope to receive an additional, more concrete, warning a few days before the start of a U.S. attack. Such advance warning will apparently be given three, or fewer, days before the start of the U.S. operation. The IDF's Home Front Command, air force and other branches have been given to the middle of January to finish preparations and raise levels of preparedness for a possible Iraqi attack. In internal Israeli security discussions, and also in talks involving Israeli officials in Washington, the focus of concern has been the prospect of Baghdad sending "suicide planes" carrying biological or chemical materials to Israel. The air force's anti-aircraft units are preparing for such a scenario. Less likely, security officials believe, is a scenario whereby Iraq fires at the country missiles which have non-conventional warheads. Officials believe that Iraq's missile-delivery capacity has been crippled since the 1991 Gulf War. In talks in Washington, U.S. officials have reiterated their promise that attacks on missile launchers which remain in western Iraq will constitute a high priority, once an American offensive begins. U.S. officials believe that the operation in Iraq will last about two months, and will be completed before the start of the summer. Israel is skeptical about this forecast; security officials believe that the American offensive is liable to last longer than a few months. Mofaz has presented U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld a report about Iraqi support of terror. Saddam Hussein's regime, the report contends, continues to allocate grants of about $25,000 apiece to families of suicide strikers. The Iraqi grant is about eight times larger than subsidies provided by Saudi Arabia to families of Palestinian casualties. Preparing for the offensive against Iraq, the U.S. armed forces are stepping up joint exercise schedules with various forces in the Middle East. For instance, navies from the U.S., Turkey and Israel will take part in a joint exercise off Israel's coasts on January 1. Bush cancels travel plans U.S. President George Bush has canceled a planned visit to Africa, due to the developing crisis in the Persian Gulf, the White House announced yesterday. Bush was scheduled to travel to Africa in mid-January, but his aides explained that the president does not want to be out of America in a period when his administration could need to reach a final decision about an offensive in Iraq. U.S. officials are indicating that such a decision is likely to come toward the end of January, after the team of inspectors led by Dr. Hans Blix submits its full report to the United Nations Security Council. Security Council resolution 1441, passed on November 8, requires Blix's team to submit its full report within 60 days after the date it began work, November 27. This means that the moment of truth for the Bush administration to reach a final decision about the Iraq offensive will be January 27, 2003, U.S. sources indicated. The CIA will provide UN inspectors classified information regarding facilities in Iraq which could be secretly used for developing and producing non-conventional weapons. Senior U.S. officials who confirmed that this classified intelligence information will be shared with the UN team said that the data were culled mostly from satellite pictures; the information will be relayed to the UN team beginning today, the U.S. officials added. U.S. officials have suggested that the intelligence materials in question are of "very high quality."
