(CNN) Barbara Starr and Mike Mount - Saddam Hussein is preparing a "scorched earth policy" in which he might torch oil wells, destroy power plants, and blow up food storage facilities if Iraq is invaded or his hold on power threatened, U.S. military officials believe. They said the military has "solid evidence" that Saddam would use weapons of mass destruction if he believes he is about to topple. Targets of such weapons would likely include Israel, Kuwait, U.S. troops in Iraq, and minorities around Baghdad. A new fiber optic communications network now links "all sorts" of military facilities across Iraq, thanks to equipment sales in recent months from Chinese and Turkish firms. Morale problems plague the military, including the Republican Guard, and there are shortages of equipment and ammunition.
2002-12-20 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive