The Bush administration is considering a pre-emptive military strike against Iraq that would start with an attack on Baghdad and one or two key command centres and weapons depots, the New York Times reported on Monday.
Quoting senior administration and Pentagon officials, the newspaper said US military planners hoped the strategy would cut off Iraq’s leadership and lead to quick collapse of the government.
Those advocating that plan say it reflects a strong US desire to find a strategy that would not require a full quarter-million American troops, yet hits hard enough to succeed.
One important aim of the attack, the daily said, would be to disrupt Iraq’s ability to produce or use weapons of mass destruction.
The Times reported that no formal plan has yet been presented to US President George Bush or the senior members of his national security team, and that officials emphasised several military alternatives were still under consideration. – Sapa-AFP