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Axis of Evil
US making plans for Iraq assault
2002-02-14
  • The Pentagon and the CIA have begun preparations for an assault on Iraq involving up to 200,000 US troops that is likely to be launched later this year with the aim of removing Saddam Hussein from power, US and diplomatic sources told the Guardian yesterday. President George Bush's war cabinet, known as the "principals committee", agreed at a pivotal meeting in late January that the policy of containment has failed and that active steps should be taken to topple the Iraqi leader.

    According to a US intelligence source familiar with CIA preparations, the plans for a parallel overt and covert war landed on the president's desk in the past few days. "I will reserve whatever options I have. I'll keep them close to my vest. Saddam Hussein needs to understand that I'm serious about defending our country," Mr Bush said.
    There's always a plan for an assault on an area. They're canned, and periodically they're dusted off and updated. Iraq's at the top of the news right now, so it's time for an update. The Guardian tries to make something of the fact that it took the CIA longer to get a plan to the president than the Defense Department - they probably had to write theirs from scatch, as the context for covert operations is a lot more fluid than the military structure. If Bush gives the go-ahead, either or both of the plans will be implemented, with on-the-fly modifications as called for by Murphy. If Bush decides that Burma or Belgium or Bolivia or Burundi represents a more significant problem, the plans will go back into the bottom drawer until they're needed again. That's the way the system works. It's why we have a joint staff.
    • Posted by:Fred Pruitt

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