Bush's Speech About Iraq, March 17 8 PM EST

[cerulean]

Post information and thoughts.

[victot]

i'm a bit nervous...

i almost never pray, but before i go to sleep tonight or next morning, i think i will.

i hope/pray everything works out well.

[Alfred]

Good speech but I still believed we should have gone in October.

I disagree with Bush and his team on going to the UN and for this nightmare over the last 4 months. The nation and the world are now split. Where they were not in October.

But after 8 years of Clinton...we probably could not have done the job in October.

[cerulean]

More later, but one summary article here:

http://msnbc.com/news/842500.asp?0cv=CA01
President gives Saddam 48 hours
Leave or else, Bush warns after diplomacy breaks down

NBC, MSNBC AND NEWS SERVICES
WASHINGTON, March 17 — President Bush threw down a gauntlet Monday night to Saddam Hussein, giving him and his sons 48 hours to flee Iraq or face a massive U.S.-led invasion.

[localbrew]

I always loose at Texas style poker.

During his speech not one time did he call himself the President of the United States. He only said : ”As Commander in Chief”. As an American, having lived now for many years and being born here I can’t remember any American President using those words in the absence of “President” also being used.

No matter what any of you may think, no matter what your political views are, the might of the US military will be unleashed on Iraq anytime after 48 hours. Fair warning has been given. Let no man or women say fair warning has not been given. After 12 years of diplomacy if any of you really think the USA is in error come forward now and make your case. If any of you really believe Iraq posses no WMD come forward now before the war starts because you will, in my judgment not be able to do so later. In my judgment Iraq will use its WMD when attacked voiding all arguments for further inspections.

Just today Saddam said categorically he had WMD but posses none now. What will those who support no military action against Iraq say when he uses them?

[cerulean]

Originally posted by localbrew
[snip]In my judgment Iraq will use its WMD when attacked voiding all arguments for further inspections.

Just today Saddam said categorically he had WMD but posses none now. What will those who support no military action against Iraq say when he uses them?

Saddam was promising world war, according to the headline I read this morning. This is the same speech in which he says he has no WMD. I fear you are right, that Saddam will use the WMD he has. I hope reason prevails and he decides to scram.

[Communication]

So then Bush gets to be right if Saddam does in fact send biological and chemical warheads into Israel and Kuwait, maybe others. Israel says they are ready, I pray they are. Same with any other potential targets. Saddam has also said that if the US launches a war, that he will consider the entire world a battlefield. What happens from here on out is going to happen and there is no sense living in fear over it (although you might want to call your parents just to say "I love you"- you know, just in case). And victot, if you are going to pray, pray for the whole community, like Daniel did.

I do hope that things turn out reasonably well and that the Iraqi people are receptive to the opportunity to build a better Iraq without Saddam, assuming that America can help build a better Iraq.

It's hard to say whether military strategy will change significantly from here out. People argue that this is a pre-emptive attack and so it sets a bad precedent, but technically, Iraq has violated international agreements and UN Resolutions for 12 years. International law is hard to enforce, and like any body of law, everything is argued, nothing is clear cut.

Bush is either very courageous or very stupid and we won't really know for a while now. If he succeeds here, he will be a hero. If not, then half of Europe and the ME have already positioned themselves to counter-balance US power in the future.

[humus_sapiens]

Originally posted by Alfred
Good speech but I still believed we should have gone in October.

I disagree with Bush and his team on going to the UN and for this nightmare over the last 4 months. The nation and the world are now split. Where they were not in October.

But after 8 years of Clinton...we probably could not have done the job in October.

IMHO, those last months clearly demonstrated yet again how useless is the UN SC.

[L@mplighterM]

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue and in 2003 Hussein’s reign came to an end.

[localbrew]

Unlike in 1492 we, the USA will find the disease in short order. We will isolate it and destroy it before the disease can kill hundreds of thousands of people.

[Alfred]

Ok, if you are in Sadaam's shoes, what do you do?

You are dead either way.

Wouldn't you now try to change the subject?

There is a good chance that they will hit Israel hard in the next 24 hours. Try to start an Arab Israeli war.

Hope those ABM's work....and you also have Hezbollah.

[Mediocrates]

If I were Saddam I'd send missiles into Jeddah or Kuwait City.

[JustPat]

Isn't it nice to see a leader with some backbone. :)

Our Commander-in-Chief has laid it all out as clearly as anyone could wish. Saddam's statements have done nothing but confirm what the US has been asserting all along. No bluffing here.

For me there is almost a sense of relief, as if we have passed a milestone somehow. Now there is this morbid anticipation, wondering what the hours ahead will bring.

Sadly, this could all have been easily avoided if reason and intelligence had prevailed in Iraq. He had everything going for him, but he just couldn't force himself to be a team player. Now the game is on.

[localbrew]

Or on might say the gig is up. Either way the **** is about to hit the fan. I know what side of the fan I would prefer to be on.

[cerulean]

Originally posted by JustPat
Sadly, this could all have been easily avoided if reason and intelligence had prevailed in Iraq. He had everything going for him, but he just couldn't force himself to be a team player. Now the game is on.

Saddam still has - oh, maybe about 41 hours right now. He can still do one right thing in his life. About time for peace activists all over the world to start putting the pressure on (sorry, dreaming for a moment here).

[localbrew]

I hear you mate but unfortunately I think Saddam is much like Hitler. He will kill as many people as he can then like a coward kill himself.

[JustPat]

Originally posted by cerulean
Saddam still has - oh, maybe about 41 hours right now. He can still do one right thing in his life. About time for peace activists all over the world to start putting the pressure on (sorry, dreaming for a moment here).
Gotta love an optimist. :)