WASHINGTON, 31 October — Amid reports of UN Security Council members narrowing their differences over the wording of a resolution to disarm Iraq, the United States said yesterday it will deploy B-2 Stealth bombers closer to the Gulf region to increase the US firepower there amid mounting pressure on Iraq.
The Air Force B2 Bomber Wing, began practicing Tuesday for the deployment to the British Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia and an air base at Fairford, England, said Col. Doug Raaberg, commander of the 509 Bomb Wing. He did not say how many of the $1.1 billion jets would be sent, but told reporters: "We will go when the president and the secretary of defense tasks us to do that."
The B-2s would take the lead in any campaign to disarm Iraqi military defenses and knock out its communications. "We will move this to a forward location so we can cycle these aircraft as rapidly as necessary," said the bomb wing commander. Raaberg said work was under way to install five special climate controlled shelters for B-2s at Diego Garcia and Fairford. He said it takes 30 days to put up one of the $1.5 million shelters.
Putting just two B-2s closer to the Gulf will enable US forces to fly 12 stealth bomber missions for every one that could be flown from Whiteman Air Force Base in the US Midwest, the military said.
Yesterday, US and British warplanes attacked Iraqi anti-aircraft units. An Iraqi official insisted the planes had bombed civilian targets. Western military authorities say their planes have attacked air defenses in the two no-fly zones over north and south Iraq 53 times this year.
Chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix, who has questioned some US proposals, met US President George W. Bush. Blix made the rounds at the White House, meeting Bush for 10 minutes, as well as Vice President Dick Cheney and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice.
Separately, US officials said the administration was building cases against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and key members of his inner circle with an eye toward charging them with crimes against humanity in the event the Iraqi government is toppled and Saddam survives.
"If Saddam Hussein’s regime collapses and he survives, of course the world will want to bring him to justice," said a senior administration official. "He shouldn’t expect to receive a pardon." The United States accuses Saddam and his inner circle, including sons Uday and Qusay, of a history of brutal repression and atrocities.
Bush talked to Blix about the importance of "protecting the peace and making certain that Saddam Hussein disarms," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.
Blix has hinted the United States should modify certain provisions in a draft resolution. One is a demand for an exhaustive list of weapons and related materials within 30 days. Blix said Monday the deadline might be too short for Iraq to account for its large civilian chemical programs, particularly materials used in its oil industry.
Bush spokesman Fleischer also said the United States has no interest in controlling Iraq’s vast oil reserves if the administration decides to take military action in Iraq.
