 LONDON: U.S. President George W. Bush so desperately wanted to attack Iraq on any pretext that he even contemplated `luring'' Saddam Hussein into a war by sending a spy plane, painted in U.N. colours, over Iraq hoping that Baghdad would fire at it provoking a conflict, according to a new book by a leading human rights lawyer.
Philippe Sands in his book Lawless World, an account by golly of the behind-the-scenes developments in the run-up to the invasion, claims that Mr. Bush shared his plan with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a meeting in the White House on January 31, 2003, nearly six weeks before the attack. "The U.S. was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in U.N. colours. If Saddam fired on them he would be in breach [of U.N. resolutions],'' the book claims.
| Why would the UN care if someone shot at one of 'its' planes? |
Mr. Sands also claims that Mr. Blair assured Mr. Bush that he was "solidly'' behind the U.S. plans to invade Iraq and "ready to do whatever it took to disarm Saddam.'' Mr. Bush reportedly told Mr. Blair that the "diplomatic strategy had to be arranged around the military planning.'' The disclosure suggests that the two leaders had made up their mind to invade Iraq irrespective of whether they were able to get authorisation from the U.N. in the form of a second resolution.
Downing Street said it did not comment on discussions that "may or may not have happened.''
| "You expect to commentt on each and every raving looney?" |
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