Bush assures Sharon that Washington will give better protection against Iraqi attack than it did in 1991

Chris McGreal in Jerusalem Saturday December 28, 2002 The Guardian

The United States has sent the first of what is expected to be a 1,000-strong force to Israel to bolster defences against missile attacks ahead of a possible war in Iraq.

The deployment of the troops and a number of Patriot missile batteries follows Ariel Sharon's threat to attack Iraq if his country is hit with chemical or biological weapons.

President Bush has sought to prevent Israel embroiling itself in any conflict by assuring Mr Sharon that there will be no repeat of the 1991 Gulf war when Iraq was able to launch 39 missiles against Israel, killing two people, injuring 200 and spreading considerable panic.

But the Israelis are preparing anyway with mass vaccinations against smallpox, simulated chemical attacks, and air raid drills in schools.

Remainder is here

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2002