Ouch ... He wants a couple of more months. That's not going to go over well with the US. Personally, I think war is pretty much inevitable at this point, and we might as well get it over with as soon as possible so we can move on.
I agree. Regardless of what the findings are, I feel like the US is set on attacking. Im tired of hearing about all this and just want it all to end.
Though I don't lean towards the left, I've been on the fence on this war from the beginning. I've now officially picked a side. I don't want to see it happen. Not for any of the reasons I've seen mentioned, but....really....for the worst reason of all: I have a hunch. I just have this sneaky suspicion that Saddam is baiting the US to try and start something. Granted, what we see in the press shows a Saddam who is just acting like he always has and a Bush that seems hell-bent on war. Of course, we have no idea what's going on in the background. 95% of what the press feeds us is fed to them. What if Saddam did get his hands on a Nuke? Or bought the knowledge and materials to build one? He's already announced that they will use "whatever means necessary" to "fight their attackers." The world seems pretty much against this war. How hard would it be to sneak a nuke close enough to a carrier group to destroy it? I don't know; maybe my paranoia has hit full stride, but I just have really bad feelings about the repercussions.
I though the part re. VXN was particularly bad. VXN is one of the most lethal chemcial agents, and Iraq claimed they unilaterally destroyed it. Evidence showed that they produced more than they claimed, there is no evidence that they destroyed it (along with all of the reasearch documents ), and some evidence exists that they actually worked to stabilize and purify it.
Pole, that's a fear of mine as well. It doesn't seem like it'd be that hard to take him out without a full-fledged war, but what do I know? Not much.
Pole, I agree with you. Saddam seems too quiet lately. Also, as sadistic as the man is, is it really that hard to evade the methods of detection employed by the UN inspectors?
Pole - that is pretty scary. I hope we can leak some info to let the world know what's going on. I hope we know what he is up to, if he is. More from BBC.
That's another thing I have issue with. Iraq is the size of THREE Floridas. That's an awful lot of square miles in which to play hide and seek. Inspections are a joke.
On the other side of the world, North Korean rhetoric intensifies in what is clearly a nuclear crisis: link "Despite the talks, North Korea on Monday issued an angry tirade through KCNA against the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency. It called agency head Mohamed ElBaradei a "poor servant and mouthpiece" of the United States. The IAEA indefinitely postponed a meeting of its 35-nation board of directors to discuss whether to refer the Korean nuclear crisis to the Security Council after South Korea said the meeting could upset its efforts at dialogue with the North. Washington is pushing for the matter to go to the Security Council, which could further pressure the North with international sanctions. The North has said that it would consider sanctions a declaration of war." Things are getting more interesting.
I guess my earlier assessment was vague. I feel for those against war because of fear of casualties. My question is what happens if we let this situation go unchecked? Any delay will only serve to strengthen and embolden Saddam, IMO. Should we deal with him now or 5-10 years from now? That is what it will come to.
I cant help but think of the guy from Die Hard with a Vengence whenever Blix is talking. Looks like its becoming more and more obvious that there are....are you sitting down people...there are links between Al Queda and Saddam. I don't know about you guys but I am totally shocked. Gee...whoda thunk it
there are links between Al Queda and Sadaam. Where'd you get this? I don't know; maybe my paranoia has hit full stride, but I just have really bad feelings about the repercussions. Pole - this could also be an argument for war. If we back down, what happens the next time Saddam wants something? If we're afraid to act because of this card that he can keep playing over and over, he'll get whatever he wants it seems. Now's the one time that we almost have world support (or at least semi-justification) to attack. If we lose this opportunity, who knows if we can get it again. That said, Bush STILL refuses to actually make the case for war and he continues to lose more and more world support. Ari Fleisher's snide comment that "he'll make the case when he feels its necessary" is grating and is costing Bush credibility by the day, both in the US and around the world.
I'm just scared that if this 'us' against 'them' mentality continues to grow and continues to cultivate hatred between the two sides, or 3 if you throw in North Korea, we (the world) could be in for a massive all out war ... We have North Korea which will be backed by China, they're not all that fond of the West either, and that is one MIGHTY army to face. No matter how technologically advanced the Western armies might be, those 2 can put up a sheer number of people. China's military exceeds 3 million people and North Korea is past the 1 million point. That area is just scary ... you have India (1million+) and Pakistan (600K+) right there, 4 countries with nuclear weapons, they start taking sides ... Iraq, as Pole said, is mighty confident they can deal with the US. It might be that they're just putting a strong face out there, but who knows. Sometimes just having the desire and will to do something is enough of a weapon. I hope there isn't a war, but the more this unravels the more it looks inevitable.
Ari Fliecher (sp) was asked about the ties and whether or not we had new info...he said something to the extent of that Powell, and the white house is basing it (it being knowledge of terrorist ties) on info that they have gathered for some time now.
