Word: websters
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...been no surprise if it had come from any of the Democrats who used last week's House and Senate hearings to warn the Bush Administration against a hasty resort to force in the Persian Gulf. But the message came from one of the President's own men: William Webster, director of the Central Intelligence Agency...
...Webster's description of an Iraq under severe economic pressure is a depiction much bleaker than that put forward by the White House. In recent weeks the Bush Administration has been closing ranks to offer a suddenly more downbeat assessment of whether sanctions can work. In late October, George Bush was still expressing the hope that the embargo could force Saddam to retreat. But last week, a few days after the United Nations Security Council approved the use of military force in the gulf, he declared, "I've not been one who has been convinced that sanctions alone would bring...
...appearance before the committee, Webster was also careful to caution that even an economic stranglehold on Iraq might not cause Saddam to loosen his grip on Kuwait. There is no guarantee, Webster advised, that "economic hardships will compel Saddam to change his policies, or lead to internal unrest that would threaten his regime." But in the most comprehensive public analysis to date of the impact of the sanctions, Webster went on to outline a picture of an Iraqi economy that would be badly crippled by next summer...
...Webster said more than 90% of Iraq's imports and 97% of its exports have been shut off. Though the impact upon the nation's food supply has not been serious, the virtual end of imports is bad news for Iraqi industry, which is heavily dependent on parts and equipment from abroad. At the same time, the embargo on Iraqi exports, especially oil, has cost Saddam $1.5 billion a month since he invaded Kuwait in August, leaving his nation without the foreign exchange it must have to offer as payment for smuggled goods. For now, Iraqi factories can dip into...
...Webster warned that it would take longer, however, before the Iraqi military started feeling squeezed. Given the static defensive posture of Saddam's air and ground forces, which reduces wear and tear on equipment, they could probably maintain their current level of readiness for nine months at least. After that, however, the unavailability of spare parts would start to tell, especially for Iraq's high-tech air force. Webster predicted that by as early as next March, Baghdad would have to reduce reconnaissance and training flights by its fleet of French- and Soviet-made aircraft. The departure of foreign technicians...