The Hindu : U.S. war plan puts Kuwait on alert

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 05, 2002

International

International

U.S. war plan puts Kuwait on alert

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA (BAHRAIN) AUG. 4. Fearing that it could get embroiled in a U.S.-led campaign against Iraq, Kuwait is training its forces to face chemical weapon attacks by Baghdad.

The Kuwaiti Chief of Army Staff, Ali al-Moumin, said earlier this week that his country was ready to withstand a possible attack from "traditional and non-traditional" weapons. In a statement reported in the Kuwaiti daily, al-Qabas al, Gen. Moumin said U.S., German and Czech experts had trained Kuwaiti forces in chemical defence. He indicated that German and Czech forces specialised in chemical and biological weapons were still in Kuwait and that there was a possibility for expansion, whenever needed.

The Kuwaiti General's observations assume importance in the wake of fears that a desperate Iraq faced with the possibility of losing its President, Saddam Hussein, in a war with the U.S., may resort to the use of chemical and biological weapons. Iraq watchers point out that Baghdad may have stocks of chemical and biological weapons but believe it still does not possess nuclear arms. It is feared that the weapons have a strike range that can cover some countries in the region. Keen to avoid a war, countries in the region have urged Baghdad to agree unconditionally to the return of U.N. inspectors and to allow them to inspect facilities that are suspected of producing mass destruction weapons.

Not surprisingly, many countries in the region have, so far, not responded to Iraq's conditional offer on Friday to allow U.N. inspectors access to the facilities. However, indicating that inspections should be carried out without pre-conditions, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Saud-Al-Faisal, said shortly after a day's visit to Iran on Saturday that allowing the inspectors to return was the best way of ensuring the safety of Iraq and its people.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, stressing the need for unconditional inspections, said in Manila that there was no need for further clarifications . In a related development, the yet-to-be formally launched Council for National Salvation comprising U.S. backed Iraqi opposition leaders is likely to appeal to Mr. Hussein to step down. A Council official reportedly said many Arab countries would be ready to offer political asylum to Mr. Hussein in order to avert a war with the U.S.

Meanwhile, preparations are under way to unite ethnic Kurds based in Iraq who are presently divided under two political bodies — the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Masssoud Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan headed by Jalal Talabani. Both parties on Thursday agreed to form a provisional parliament.

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