Iraq Wouldn't Hit U.S., Official Says

OTTAWA — Iraq would not seek to attack targets in the U.S. if Washington launched an invasion, but Baghdad might strike at Kuwait, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz told Canada's CBC television Monday.

Last week, one of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's sons said the attacks of Sept. 11 would "be a picnic compared with what would happen to America" if U.S. troops invade.

When asked whether this meant Baghdad would try to launch some kind of attack on the United States, Aziz said, "No, it doesn't, because we don't have the means and we don't have the wish to make any mischief to the United States inside the United States."

But Aziz said he could not rule out an Iraqi strike on Kuwait if U.S. troops crossed over from there into Iraq.