US aircraft deployed in Gulf to deter Iraq
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THE UNITED STATES has moved a large force of Air Force and Navy attack aircraft to the Gulf to bolster what it calls a 'formidable military force' to deter and if necessary counter an Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. But Iraq's President, Saddam Hussein, continued yesterday to keep the world guessing about his
intentions.
Despite reports from Baghdad, that 'thousands' of volunteers rushed to join 'Saddam commandos' yesterday to fight to the death if the United Nations failed to ease sanctions against Iraq, Kuwait's Information Minister, Sheikh Saud Nasser al-Saud al-Sabah, said Iraqi troops near the border were not in an offensive position.
The White House Chief of Staff, Leon Panetta, said the US was not sure why President Saddam had massed an estimated force of 64,000, including elite units from the Republican Guard, so close to the Kuwait border: 'It could be an invasion, it could be bluster, it could be just a threat.' But Washington had to 'assume the worst'.
Iraq has neither confirmed nor denied it is massing troops near the border. But press rhetoric in Baghdad reminds many Iraqis of that used before the 1990 invasion. Iraq said yesterday it was standing by its demands on UN sanctions and would not be intimidated by Western military power.
'I'm not going to go into details,' said Mr Panetta, asked whether the US would not now be forced to send troops again if it had 'finished off Saddam' in the 1991 Gulf war, 'but I can tell you this: we're not going to make the mistakes of the past.'
The US interpretation that Iraq may be planning an invasion of the emirate was contested by diplomats in the region. One Western diplomat asked: 'How can anyone think for one minute that President Saddam has conceived a plan to invade Kuwait again?'
The captain of the British frigate Cornwall which arrived in Kuwaiti waters yesterday said the vessel had loaded its missiles and was five minutes away from action status. 'We have live missiles. Launchers are ready and everything is loaded,' Captain Charles Freeman said.
Saddam takes on world, page 11
Robert Fisk, page 16
Leading article, page 15
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