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The Bush Administration continues its course towards war against Iraq, trotting out Tenet to reiterate Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction programs and a weak link to Al Qaida.
 

War Drums:  Iraq gets more of the Evil Empire Treatment

The Bush Administration is pulling out the stops now, priming the pump for support for a small coalition or even unilateral action against Iraq.  On March 19, 2002, CIA Director Tenet, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee outlined the continuing development of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.  Citing economic relations with Iraq's neighbors, Tenet said that Iraq gains support for reduction or elimination of trade sanctions through trade and then uses the funds to continue his programs.  According to a March 20 Department of State release, "... the CIA believes that the Iraqi regime is trying to develop biological, chemical and nuclear weapons and missiles capable of delivering them."

Tenet is quoted as saying,
 

"Saddam has carefully cultivated neighboring states, drawing them into economically dependent relationships in hopes of further undermining their support for the sanctions. The profits he gains from these relationships provide him the means to reward key supporters and, more importantly, to fund his pursuit of WMD. His calculus is never about bettering or helping the Iraqi people."

In the same week, U.S. sources released information linking the Hussein regime in Iraq to meetings and support for Al Qaida, finally providing the link necessary to tie Iraq into the global War on Terror being persecuted by the U.S. military.  While no one can tie Iraq to the attacks on September 11, it is clear the Bush Administration is using the "If you feed a terrorist, you are a terrorist" remarks made several times by the U.S. President.

The week's remarks and testimony follow an increasingly severity in U.S. dialog pertaining to Iraq.  The effect desired appears to be the building of a case for taking the War on Terror against the number kingpin of the "Axis of Evil" and follows several rejections of U.N. requests to return U.N. WMD inspectors to Iraq.

Iraq's response has been to hint at possible inspections and the "charming" of several of its neighbors.

Vice President Dick Cheney, returning from a trip presumably designed to also speak with Iraq's neighbors may bring home at least one other ally besides the British.  Many believe the U.S. can "go it alone", however, with the aid of the U.K. and at least one arab nation, more legitimacy and less risk would be involved in taking on Iraq.
 

© Copyright, 2002, Michael Crawford, MILNET

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