Baghdad, Feb 09: President Saddam Hussein said today he was happy about the high morale of Iraqi troops and their
readiness to defend the country against any US-led onslaught.
Speaking to a delegation of top military officials, he said he was addressing "those present, and through them all
the fighters, the strugglers who draw the picture of the nation with dignity, challenge and strong will".
"My joy becomes greater when I see you happy," he told his audience, which included his younger son Qusay, who heads
the all-powerful elite Republican Guards, and Defence Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad.
The President's remarks came as UN chief weapons inspectors were meeting Iraqi officials to assess
Baghdad's compliance with UN disarmament directives, an encounter that could determine whether or not the United
States makes good on its threat to disarm Iraq by force.
Bureau Report
