Iraq issues nuclear threat to the west

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IRAQ ISSUES NUCLEAR THREAT TO WEST

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.

http://www.menewsline.com/stories/2001/november/11_11_4.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), November 11, 2001


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