Preparations for Possible Attack Against Iraq Continue - 2002-12-22

In preparation for a possible attack against Iraq, the largest military maneuvers by the United States Army in over a decade are taking place in the Persian Gulf region. Thousands of American soldiers from the Third Division and hundreds of armored vehicles are participating in these maneuvers, which are conducted with real weapons to enhance combat skills. During the maneuver on Saturday, an army spokesperson stated that an armored brigade deployed M-1 Abrams tanks against positions resembling Iraqi minefields and bunkers. Concurrently, American and British fighter jets dropped leaflets in two cities in southern Iraq, informing residents about a radio station encouraging the Northern Iraqi opposition. It is reported that U.S. intelligence agents are cooperating with forces opposing Saddam Hussein. According to the New York Times published today, CIA teams have been identifying potential sites and preparing and training scouts and translators in the Kurdish-controlled area of northern Iraq for several weeks. Kurdish officials claim that Americans are also interrogating members of the Islamic group Ansar al-Islam, which is under the control of Kurdish security forces. It is said that Americans are seeking information regarding this group's collaboration with the terrorist network al-Qaeda. Meanwhile, members of the United Nations weapons inspection team are once again searching throughout Iraq for prohibited weapons of mass destruction. On the 23rd, international weapons experts visited a space research facility, a missile complex, and several chemical weapons production plants.