Prologue - Page 4

Saddam rubbed his hands together. “And will they suffer as they die? Will the Jews who bombed my reactor finally be punished?”

Rihab Rashida al-Awazi replied clinically, “First they will have severe convulsions. The spasms will be so violent that even those with biological warfare suits will succumb. Some will lapse into comas; others will simply feel their ability to breathe cease. Death will come eventually. The attacks will come without warning.”

“As they deserve,” concluded Saddam. He fixed his gaze on Duri and said, “Do it.”

Colonel Duri saluted, realizing he had been dismissed.




AP November 12, 1997—Hundreds of Iraqi citizens were ushered into presidential compounds to act as human shields against possible American strikes on suspected weapons depot facilities. UNSCOM inspectors were refused entry to suspected Iraqi weapon facilities.



AP November 14, 1997—Ambassador Richard Butler, the head of the UNSCOM weapons inspection teams, decided to pull all inspection teams out of Iraq. The turmoil surrounding suspect weapons sites amid rumors of increased activity around the USS George Washington and USS Nimitz battle groups makes it impossible to continue their mission.