Chemical warfare unit, use of airspace sought for possible invasion

By Kevin Livingston, The Prague Post, [15 January 2003]

Days before national leaders were scheduled to begin a debate on whether the country would become involved in a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq, U.S. diplomats were putting intense pressure on the government to commit its nuclear, biological and chemical weapons unit to the potential conflict.

A failure to do so, the United States warned, would seriously damage relations between the two countries, according to an observer with firsthand knowledge of bilateral negotiations being conducted over the issue. The observer spoke on condition of anonymity.

The government had until Monday, Jan. 20, to consider the request and to decide if the United States will be allowed to use the country to house U.S. armed forces and equipment and to use Czech airspace. Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla's Cabinet approved the request Jan. 13.

But Parliamentary approval also is necessary to lift the current mandate, which only allows for troops to operate in Kuwait as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, launched after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. The 251-troop unit acts as an emergency decontamination response team that specializes in detecting the use of chemical weapons and treats those injured by such weapons. U.S. President George W. Bush has cited Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's alleged possession of chemical weapons as part of the justification for invading Iraq.

An enlarged chemical warfare unit would follow invading U.S. troops. Such an event would mark the first time that Czech military units would be engaged in direct combat operations. Slovak soldiers may also join the unit, according to press reports.

It appeared highly likely that Parliament would approve the request, despite recent polls showing that nearly 60 percent of the population opposes involving the country in a new war in the Persian Gulf.

Spidla, Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda and Defense Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik have made public statements in support of the request. President Vaclav Havel has said that the United States should not fight against Hussein alone.

The request was expected to pass easily in the Senate but could run into opposition in the Chamber of Deputies. If Parliament approves the use of Czech troops, Tvrdik said, soldiers could be deployed to the area within 10 days.