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Iraq: U.S. Considers Other Options Before Full Attack The Bush administration will try various means of removing Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power over the next few months before launching any full-scale attack, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, May 24). According to the Times, officials have discussed three plans: launching a full-scale U.S. invasion, providing air and limited ground support for opposition groups or providing logistical and intelligence assistance to Hussein’s enemies in an attempt to begin a mutiny within the Iraqi regime. Many Pentagon civilian leaders and National Security Council members support the option in which U.S. Special Forces would assist opposition groups, according to the Times. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, however, consider that approach naive and prefer to invade Iraq with overwhelming force if the president decides to attack. An invasion would require at least 200,000 soldiers, and U.S. forces must be prepared for a potential Iraqi WMD attack, the chiefs have said (see GSN, May 20). Meanwhile, Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of the Central Command that would oversee military action against Iraq, provided Defense officials yesterday with military requirements for overthrowing Hussein. Franks is expected to brief U.S. President George W. Bush on the plans today. Officials said Bush has not yet decided how to proceed (Christopher Marquis, New York Times, June 19).
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