London: Fearing an apparent backlash to UK's support for the US-led war on Iraq,
Britain on March 30 geared to face threats of suicide bomb attacks to its cities
as 'routine military policy'.
The warning from Iraq's Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan came, as the first of
Britain's war dead arrived home at RAF Brize Norton on March 29.
Within hours of four US servicemen being killed by a suicide bomber – who was
awarded a posthumous bravery medal by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein – Iraq's Vice-
President said, "This is just the beginning. You'll hear more pleasant news later.
"It will be routine military policy," Ramadan said. "We will use any means to kill
our enemy in our land and we will follow the enemy into its land.
He warned that while Iraq could not match British and US military firepower, it
could hit back just as hard by other means. And in a direct reference to the
September 11 atrocities, Saddam's deputy said, "They have bombs that can kill 500
people, but I am sure that the day will come when a single martyrdom operation will
kill 5,000 enemies.
"The Iraqi people have a legal right to deal with the enemy with any means.
"Let me tell you, and I say to the people of America and Britain, you are going to
turn the whole world into people who will die for their nations. The Americans and
British are bragging their B52 bombers can carry massive bombs capable of killing so
many people, so what do you expect?"
Praising 'heroic' suicide bomber Ali Jaafar al-Noamani, who killed himself along
with the four US soldiers, he warned at a press conference, "Every Iraqi will be
willing to take their lives as martyrs. This is just the beginning."
PTI
