Biological, Chemical Weapons Boost Iraq's Military might.(PAGE ONE)

Byline: Bill Gertz, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Eleven years after its defeat in the Persian Gulf war, Iraq's military forces are smaller but more potent because of secret stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons.

The Iraqi military, made up mostly of ground forces and air power, has some 375,000 troops, 2,200 tanks and 3,700 armored vehicles along with 2,400 major artillery weapons, according to military analysts.

The Iraqi air force has about 300 combat aircraft that could be put into action.

But it is Iraq's arsenal of chemical and biological weapons, and possibly nuclear arms, that has raised concerns among war planners in the Pentagon.

Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David Baker, a Persian Gulf war veteran, said Iraq's use of chemical or biological weapons is a "wild card" in any military planning by the United States.

"Clearly, this is a concern of the military," said Gen. Baker. "The threat is real and has to be a factor in any combat operations. If the president decides to use military …

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Publication information: Article title: Biological, Chemical Weapons Boost Iraq's Military might.(PAGE ONE). Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: The Washington Times (Washington, DC). Publication date: August 3, 2002. Page number: A01. © 2009 The Washington Times LLC. COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group.

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