WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has assessed that Iraq is threatening
nuclear retaliation for any attack on the regime of President Saddam
Hussein.U.S. defense sources said intelligence agencies and the Pentagon agree
that Saddam has made the most explicit threats since the 1991 Gulf war that
he is ready to use nuclear weapons. They said Iraq appears to be preparing
either nuclear or radiation bombs in response to any U.S.-led attack on
Saddam."There is plenty of reason to watch Iraq," U.S. National Security
Adviser Condoleezza Rice said. "There is plenty of reason to make very clear
to the Iraqis that the United States does not intend to let the Iraqis
threaten their own people, threaten their neighbors, or threaten our
interests by acquiring weapons of mass destruction."On Wednesday, the Baghdad-based Babel daily, published by Saddam's son,
Uday, reported that the president met with the head of the nation's nuclear
and defense programs. The newspaper, reserved for the most authoritative
messages from the regime, said Iraqi nuclear chiefs have pledged to
accelerate their nuclear programs in defense of the nation.
NOTE: The above is not the full item.
This service contains only a small portion of the information produced daily by Middle East Newsline. For a subscription to the full service, please contact Middle East Newsline at: editor@menewsline.com for further details.
