Baghdad, Dec 28: A day after Washington ordered two aircraft carriers and thousands of marines to prepare for
action in Iraq, the Baghdad government shrugged off the threat with one newspaper saying that Iraqis cannot be intimidated by the beating of drums of war.
Separately, UN arms inspectors visited five suspected
weapons sites in and around Baghdad today, including a complex for making missiles and parts for a nuclear bomb.
The US Defence Department sent orders yesterday for two aircraft carrier battle groups and two assault ships -
carrying roughly 4,400 marines - to be ready to sail to the
sea off Iraq within 96 hours after a certain date, US
officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. They declined to specify that date.
"Whoever dares to strike Iraq and its people will pay a high price," the official Iraqi army newspaper, al-Qadissiya, today said in an editorial.
"Iraq is fenced by real men, experienced in battle. The beating of war drums, the noise of weapons, the sending of
warships, the mobilising of armies will neither frighten nor
terrorise the Iraqis. On the contrary, it will increase their determination and strengthen their unity," said the paper,
named after a historic battle between Arabs and Persians.
In similar vein, Iraqi trade minister Mohammed Mahdi
Saleh opened a seminar in Baghdad today saying that Iraq would defeat any invader.
"Iraqis will fight under the leadership of holy leading
warrior (president) Saddam Hussein," Saleh said, speaking in military uniform. "We will fight from village to village, from city to city, from street to street in every city."
Bureau Report
