The Islamic lands

Israel has so far succeeded in ensuring that no other Middle East country has atomic weapons, but Iran is said to be close to testing its first weapon, with Russian assistance. In June 1981, Israel bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor at Osirak, close to Baghdad.

Pakistan carried out six nuclear tests in May 1998. It is likely to have fuel for sixty weapons by 2005.

Iraq certainly has no nuclear weapons. If it has biological or chemical weapons, a questionable 'if', it is in the same category as the USA, Israel and almost every other state. Most nations, however, recognise that such weapons are immoral even if they possess them. Only the United States exempts itself from the moral constraints that are self-evident to most other nations.

Question: Why is America threatening war on Iraq, and why is Britain so anxious to support what is clearly a spurious exercise?