Moscow, Aug 28. (UNI): Washington may launch a military operation against Iraq on September 11, an influential leader of Russian parliament said today.
"In view of the practice of political decision-making in the US, September 11 may be the likeliest date for such a strike," Mikhail Margelov, Speaker of the Federation Council, the Upper House of parliament, said here.
"In that case, with the high tide of reminiscences about last year's tragedy, the necessary public support for commencing the hostilities would be guaranteed," Interfax news agency today quoted Margelov as saying.
The Russian speaker was commenting on the advocacy by US Vice President Dick Cheney of the earliest possible strike against Iraq. He, However, made it clear that if the United States did strike on September 11, its "allies in the anti-terrorism coalition may find themselves in a difficult position."
"It would be rather difficult not to support the US on that day," he noted, adding that the Bush administration had managed to cope with the Taliban and carry through a radical positive change in Afghanistan's political system.
The Congressional primaries in the United States, scheduled for November eight, were another possible reason for the Bush administration to unleash war on Iraq on September 11, Margelov said.
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