The Scotsman December 22, 2002
Royal Marines will spearhead invasion of Iraq
BRIAN BRADY
THE ROYAL Navy is planning its biggest amphibious landing operation since the Falklands as Britain's main contribution to toppling Saddam Hussein in the new year, it was claimed last night.
Military planners have earmarked the entire Royal Marines 3 Commando brigade to link up with American forces and seize the strategically vital southern Iraqi port of Basra, according to reports last night.
Details of the 5,500-strong British seaborne force emerged as both British and American officials continued to talk up the likelihood of early military action if Saddam does not comply with United Nations inspections of his weapons stockpiles.
Hawkish figures within the United States were also reported to be predicting an intense land campaign against Iraq that could drive allied troops into the heart of the capital, Baghdad, within 48 hours.
"They will be in the suburbs of Baghdad at the end of the second day," said US military analyst John Pike.
"It's all going to unfold so quickly that Saddam's ears will still be ringing from the sound of the bombs when US tanks start showing up."
The continuing series of leaks about the military plans unfolding on both sides of the Atlantic have served to increase the pressure on Saddam while the US and UK governments await the outcome of the UN inspections.
Britain is poised to send thousands of troops to the Gulf in the new year in time for a campaign already pencilled in for February if the diplomatic route fails.
But the Ministry of Defence last night dismissed as 'speculative' the reports of the Navy's proposed seaborne assault on Iraq.
The ministry said that while Britain had been "undertaking prudent planning and preparation", no decision on military action had been taken.
"We cannot speculate on the composition of any potential UK force package," said a ministry spokesman, on customary condition of anonymity.
"No decision has been taken to authorise military action," he added.
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