A girl folds a large prayer carpet Tuesday at a Baghdad mosque. Sources tell CNN that Iraqi Scud missile launching equipment is being placed next to mosques. |
WASHINGTON -- U.S.
intelligence sources tell CNN that they have detected recent Iraqi military
moves that include placement of Scud missile launch equipment next to mosques
and the shipment of explosives into southern Iraq, possibly intended for
oil fields.
• Iraq has moved equipment used for launching Scud missiles next to mosques and historic sites. The move by the Iraqis is viewed as an effort to preserve their launchers from U.S. attack, and is another indicator that Iraq still has Scud missiles. The officials decline to specify the locations of the launch equipment, citing extreme sensitivity, but say the equipment would be a prime target for a U.S. attack. • Large amounts of conventional explosives have been shipped into southern Iraq. Intelligence reports indicate that it's being positioned possibly for detonation of Iraqi oil fields, although officials say they cannot confirm that this is Iraq's intent. When asked to describe the amount of explosives involved, one official quantifies it as "railroad cars" full of material. |
