World News 23-12-2002 Iraq Says `Send In The CIA` who: Presidential adviser Amir al-Saadi what: Says US should "send in the CIA" if they do not believe weapons declaration where: Iraq when: Yesterday snippet: "Iraq said yesterday it was ready to answer any question on its arms declaration, accusing Britain and the US of jumping to conclusions," reports The Mirror. "We are ready to deal with those questions if you ask us," says Iraqi presidential adviser Amir al-Saadi. "We do not even have any objections if the CIA sent somebody with the inspectors to show them the suspected sites." The BBC`s Ian Pannell in Washington says "the administration is reluctant to engage in any form of direct dialogue with the Iraqis, preferring to put pressure on the UN process." A diplomatic solution is still possible, but "in practice it is increasingly distant," he adds. Meanwhile, the US Army has "engaged in live-fire military exercises close to the Iraq/Kuwait border," reports The Financial Times, "the largest in the region since the end of the 1991 Gulf war." At the same time, US defence officials announced that the number of US troops deployed "within striking distance" of Iraq will double from 50,000 to 100,000 in the new year. Not far away, says The Telegraph, there is already fighting in the north of Iraq. Islamic militants Ansar al-Islam, suspected of links to al-Qa`eda, have battled with troops from Kurdistan, one of the West`s key allies. "In the past week the fighting has intensified," reports Wendell Steavenson, "with reports of 100 people on both sides being killed." [... more]

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