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This is an archive article published on August 6, 2002

Iraq standoff: The rumble

The rumble of war drums for Gulf War II began in early spring. That8217;s when Ken Pollack got the call from Random House asking if he coul...

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The rumble of war drums for Gulf War II began in early spring. That8217;s when Ken Pollack got the call from Random House asking if he could speed-write a book on Iraq. The publisher wanted it out by fall 8212; pegged to what then looked like the launch of a United States offensive against Saddam Hussein.

With the first Senate hearings on Iraq last week, the rumble is now a roar. News networks have lined up talking heads to dissect what happens. And Pollack8217;s manuscript for The Threatening Storm: The Case for Invading Iraq went to Random House two weeks ago. Is war that close? Or will the sequel to Operation Desert Storm wait till next year?

George W. Bush faces daunting obstacles to pull off an operation as smooth as the lightning campaign run by his father to liberate tiny, oil-rich Kuwait from Iraq in 1991.

To begin with, the mission differs. In 1991, Bush8217;s father had a military goal 8212; to force Iraq out of Kuwait. Now, the US is facing the mission of eliminating Hussein8217;s government.

Besides, Iraq8217;s neighbours still have to be convinced. Jordan8217;s King Abdullah last week blasted the idea of war as 8216;8216;ludicrous8217;8217;.

Also US intelligence has limited 8216;8216;human assets8217;8217; in Iraq to carry out vital pre-military operations, analysts say. Finally, there8217;s what policy-makers call the 8216;X8217; factor 8212; a new crisis that diverts decision-makers. One such possibility is an incident that re-ignites tensions between India and Pakistan. LATWP

 

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