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January 7, 2005
General Warns of 'Spectacular' Iraq Plots
Topics: Middle East News and PerspectivesAs we expected, things in Iraq could get a lot rougher as we approach elections on January 30. The terrorists appear to be ramping-up their cruelty in both degree and number of attacks, and certainly they will be giving no quarter. Neither should we!
My Way News via Drudge Jan 7 3:16 PM ET
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A U.S. general warned Friday that insurgents may be planning "spectacular" attacks to scare voters in the three weeks before Iraq's landmark elections, and Shiite and Sunni religious leaders voiced sharply divergent views on whether the vote should be held at all.
Air Force Brig. Gen. Erv Lessel, who is deputy chief of staff for strategic communications in Iraq, said the United States has no intelligence indicating specific plots, but he said American leaders expected a rise in attacks.
He said the insurgents' biggest weapon was their ability to instill fear.
"I think a worst case is where they have a series of horrific attacks that cause mass casualties in some spectacular fashion in the days leading up to the elections," Lessel said.
"If you look over the last six months, they have steadily escalated the barbaric nature of the attacks they have been committing. A year ago, you didn't see these kinds of horrific things," he said.
In Washington, President Bush expressed optimism about the Jan. 30 elections, saying they will be "an incredibly hopeful experience," despite rising violence and doubts that the vote will bring stability and democracy.
"I know it's hard but it's hard for a reason," Bush said, adding that the insurgents are trying to impede the elections because they fear freedom. He acknowledged security problems in four of Iraq's 18 provinces. Read more...
Posted by Hyscience at January 7, 2005 9:36 PM
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