THE US: Earlier this year the Bush administration gave the CIA the go-ahead to wage a covert campaign against Iraq, including the use of lethal force, the Washington Post reported yesterday.
The paper quoted intelligence sources saying the covert undermining of the regime through increased support to opposition forces, intelligence gathering, and the possible insertion of special forces, should realistically be seen as "preparatory" to a more substantial military campaign, possibly next year, rather than a serious attempt to overthrow President Saddam Hussein.
The Post also reports that US-Moroccan collaboration has led to the arrest of three Saudis, who are providing new insights into the functioning of al-Qaeda in the wake of its defeat in Afghanistan. The captured men are said to have reported instructions to al-Qaeda operatives to disperse throughout the world and to attack targets that represented US and Jewish interests.
The Moroccans also say that based on their contacts they believe Osama bin Laden may still be alive.
The Post says the CIA has already allocated tens of millions of dollars to the covert Iraq programme. But the CIA director, Mr George Tenet, has told President Bush and his war cabinet that the CIA effort alone, without military action, economic and diplomatic pressure, has probably only a 10 to 20 per cent chance of succeeding.
The Pentagon is considering a range of options, including an invasion force of 200,000 to 250,000. Sources said such an operation probably could not be launched until next year, and there have been reports of opposition from senior military personnel.
There are also significant difference within the administration about the effectiveness of supporting the London-based opposition Iraqi National Congress led by Mr Ahmed Chalabi. The latter is strongly supported by the White House and the Pentagon, while the State Department is said to be looking for other potential allies.
The belief that Mr Saddam is continuing to develop weapons of mass destruction is what has largely convinced Mr Bush and his war cabinet that he must be toppled, officials said. His European allies remain sceptical. The Post says the CIA's mandate includes examining the possibility of kidnapping Mr Saddam, and allows its agents to kill him if they are acting in self-defence.
The three Saudis held in Morocco are reported as saying they fled Afghanistan for Morocco with instructions to use speedboats laden with explosives for attacks on US and British warships in the straits of Gibraltar. One of the men told interrogators he had eaten regularly with bin Laden but the latter had become increasingly reclusive ahead of September 11th. He confirmed bin Laden was at Tora Bora after US forces captured Kabul, but said he had not seen him since.
Iraq said yesterday it hoped that next month's talks with the United Nations on outstanding issues, notably the return of UN arms inspectors, would lead to a comprehensive settlement. A Bagdad spokesman said an agreement on the resumption of weapons inspections after a three-year hiatus would "refute US lies on weapons of mass destruction". - (AFP)
