Israeli jets attack Iraq
In the furore that has followed last Sunday’s attack by Israeli F-4s and F-16s on the Osirak reactor near Baghdad, two questions remain; did Iraq really have the capacity to build a bomb, and were its intentions aggressive?
The truth is elusive. Iraq has been quietly acquiring nuclear technology for more than 10 years, skilfully using its oil to bargain for a wide range of facilities. It has avoided dependence on one supplier, making it difficult for outsiders to assess its nuclear programme. Iraq has played by the rules, while assiduously acquiring the means to make…
