Allies meet to discuss new Desert Storm

Daily Telegraph
27 April, 2002
By Michael Smith, Defence Correspondent

THE American general who would take charge of any invasion of Iraq discussed the options with Adml Sir Michael Boyce, Chief of Defence Staff, in London yesterday.

After the meeting, Gen Tommy Franks appeared to indicate that US operations in Afghanistan were winding down. There were unlikely to be any more large-scale US operations there, he said.

Amid reports in Washington that he wanted to mount a large-scale land assault on Iraq, Gen Franks said he and Adml Boyce discussed "where we are today with Saddam Hussein's regime".

The Washington Times reported yesterday that Gen Franks wanted to use five divisions in a "Desert Storm II" land invasion of Iraq.

But Pentagon officials said a similar mix of special forces, indigenous rebels and air power that proved successful in Afghanistan was the more likely model for any operation.

Speaking in the old War Office building, Gen Franks said no decision had been taken on any action against Iraq, but added: "We have the capability to do what our leaders ask us to do."

Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, who was in Kabul yesterday, is expected to fly to the Gulf region this weekend for discussions believed to be related to US intentions towards Iraq.

American action against Iraq was thought to have been put off until next year as a result of the Middle East crisis but Pentagon sources indicated it was likely to occur much earlier than previously thought.

Gen Franks's suggestions of a full-scale land assault mirror similar proposals he made before the attacks on Afghanistan. They were rejected in favour of the combination of special forces leading rebels and backed by air power.

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