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True: Excerpt from my book Danger and Opportunity: Explaining International Crisis Outcomes (Manchester University Press, 1995), pp. 211-212: Saddam Hussein said on 2 April 1990 that `We do not need an atomic bomb, because we have sophisticated binary chemical weapons' (quoted in Simpson 1991: 68). Binary chemical weapons have two chemicals which are relatively safe when separate. When the weapon is fired, the different chemicals in its two compartments mix to form a lethal gas. Saddam Hussein's statement was made in the context of his implicit threat to retaliate with chemical weapons for an Israeli attempt, which he believed to be imminent, to destroy his nuclear weapons research facilities (euphemistically termed `some metal industry factory'): 'The West is deluding itself if it imagines it can protect Israel if Israel comes and strikes at some metal industry factory of ours. By God, we will devour half of Israel by fire if it tries to do anything against Iraq' (quoted in Simpson 1991: 68). Saddam Hussein tried to make it clear that he was trying to deter an Israeli attack. Nevertheless, the United States concentrated on condemning Saddam Hussein for his threat, while Israel implied that a chemical attack would meet with nuclear retaliation' Also p. 224: 'Hybel sees this as an attempt to ensure that Israel would not attack Iraq if he invaded Kuwait (1993: 34-5, 54). It is more plausible that Saddam Hussein was concerned with preventing a repeat of Israel's 1981 attack on his nuclear weapon development facilities at Osiraq independently of the dispute with Kuwait. On the attack on Osiraq, see Feldman 1982.' Cheers Eric On Sun, 8 Oct 2000 15:35:37 EDT Butyfull98@aol.com wrote: > is it really true that saddam threatened israel or is that just a rumor? > -- > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq > For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk > Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: > http://www.casi.org.uk > ---------------------- Dr. Eric Herring Department of Politics University of Bristol 10 Priory Road Bristol BS8 1TU England, UK Tel. +44-(0)117-928-8582 Fax +44-(0)117-973-2133 http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Politics eric.herring@bristol.ac.uk -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk Full details of CASI's various lists can be found on the CASI website: http://www.casi.org.uk