Now the United States had to strike Iraq swiftly and severely or lose all credibility, they had argued.

Vast Compounds The United States has struck Iraq four times since 1991.

Tonight, he sought to make the case for why the United States needs to strike Iraq soon if it does not disarm.

So far as we now know, there was no need to strike Iraq before a more compelling case had been developed.

A spate of kidnappings has struck Iraq in recent months.

According to the Pentagon, the next opportunity to strike Iraq would come after Ramadan ended on Jan. 29.

He insisted that each of the gulf states would provide whatever political or military support the United States needed if it decided to strike Iraq.

The political developments came as more violence struck Iraq, killing 32 people and wounding 79.

Only 3 or 4 of the 30 staff members in the room knew that within hours United States missiles would strike Iraq.

He added that about 400 cruise missiles had struck Iraq, fired at some 100 targets.