Bush and Blair agree terms for Iraq attack

The Guardian (U.K.) ^ | 07/27/2002 | Simon Tisdall and Richard Norton-Taylor

[AxelPaulsen]

Why do I feel, that we will never actually attack Iraq?

[BJClinton]

Sometimes I get that feeling, too. But, our military was extremely low on JDAMs so it is reasonalbe that they wait and build them up.

[mhking]

More undercard stuff. How much longer until the main event? Michael Buffer is getting bored...

[Libertarianize the GOP]

fyi

[Northpaw]

Bring back the neutron bomb. Then Bush and Blair can agree to the following terms: England can pave the parking lot over the rubble and the U.S. can build the amusement park.

[Rev. Lou Chenary]

Don't worry..we'll be in.
There's a lot more variables coming into play than just Iraq and all them inbred brainwashed arabs running around.
Lock and load and don't fire till they shout Allah!!

[Moonman62]

Why do I feel, that we will never actually attack Iraq?

Don't worry, there is a big election day coming up. There'll be an attack.

[jocko12]

The attack will most likely come before the Nov. election just to make little al gore mad!!!!

[ThePythonicCow]

Pulling another "October Surprise" in order to help us in the election seems wrong to me.

On the other hand, attacking in October because that is when we can and must seems right to me.

I guess it will play out based on how well Bush convinces the American people that the attack was necessary.

My mind should be clear on this -- Saddam must go, as soon as we are ready. But I've seen too many dogs wagging (abuse of power by Clinton for political gain), and heard too many anti-Bushims from my mostly liberal family and relatives. This will not go down well with them.

I pray that Saddam, and the liberals, lose big time.

[section9]

Actually, we'll be doing both. And we'll be starting before the election.

Phase I will be the insertion of a large force of elite troops, led by the SAS, of course, and the Deltas. Don't be surprised if overall command of the Special Warfare section of this operation passes to an experienced SAS officer.

The object of the exercise will be to conduct a large scale guerrilla/sabotage operation using mobile Special warfare troops. This phase of the operation will be designed to keep Saddam and the Republican Guard off balance, chasing phantoms with armored brigades.

But it will be a hard go for the Iraqis even though they will have overwhelming superiority in armor during the opening month of the war. That's because the U.S., British, Turkish, and Israeli Air Forces will be operating a ground attack/air superiority role throughout the first phase of the campaign. The air campaign will focus on traditional targets-SAMs, SCUDs, WMD plants and stores, C3I assets (command, control, and communications), the new Chinese fiber optic system that controls the national SAM network (which will be uncovered and cut to ribbons by the SW guys), and Saddam's Winnebago, in which the Iraqi Fuhrer will be hightailing it from one side of Iraq to the other.

This phase is designed to keep Iraq's collective head down while the Main Force units build up in Turkey and Kuwait.

Phase II will open up with an armored drive through Kurdistan on Baghdad itself. Blandishments and bribes will be given to Iraqi commanders who surrender, and Iraqi regulars will be treated with courtesy and respect, so that other units might get the idea that surrender is a viable option. Those Iraqi commanders who back the right horse will have a place in the new Federal Republic of Iraq. The present contents of their Swiss bank accounts will be guaranteed by the CIA and the U.S. Treasury. Cooperative Repblican Guard commanders and members of the Inner Circle who turn traitor on Saddam will be given new identities and money so that they don't have to get hauled up before some War Crimes kangaroo court.

Meanwhile, the armored spearhead will advance in two directions: through Kurdistan and a Marine expeditionary force will advance up the Tigris/Euphrates valley. Basra will be invested rather quickly as the local Shia rise up in rebellion. Mosul and other cities in Kurdistan will fall as whole Iraqi divisions surrender en masse.

The loyalist troops will hunker down around Baghdad awaiting the final stand. During this period, some ambitious young officer will put a bullet in Saddam's brain.

And all will agree that it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. And once the secret files of the Mukhabarat are opened, we shall see just how wrapped up Iraq and the Al Qaeda were with each other.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[stilts]

The attack will most likely come before the Nov. election just to make little al gore mad!!!!

I was actually thinking the opposite. It seems that as the months since 9/11 roll by the media is becoming more openly vocal in it's criticism of the Bush administration. There may be concern that starting the Iraq offensive while the mop-up in Afghanistan lingers may create a groundswell of media critisim and coverage that hurts the republicans right before the election. I thought the safer bet was to wait until after the election.

Of course, this is only if the political ramifications of the decision are allowed to drive the timing.

[Rev. Lou Chenary]

Jeez...I wish Al Gore would just go away.

What actually even makes his thoughts on our foriegn policy any more relevant than mine or yours? He holds no public office and doesn't even have a realistic view of the world.
The guys is a damned hypocrite...I'm not even going to go into what he did to the local economy when he came up to NH to show how much he and are gracious Gov. Shaheen care about the enviroment....I was amused but Now I'm mad!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping!

Here is an interesting piece that might help in building the public case for going after Saddam :

Iraq seeks steel for nukes

[happygrl]

Aways appreciate your posts.

[Texasforever]

Don't worry, there is a big election day coming up. There'll be an attack.

I see you are readying the "wag the dog" accusations.

[MeekOneGOP]

..........And all will agree that it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. And once the secret files of the Mukhabarat are opened, we shall see just how wrapped up Iraq and the Al Qaeda were with each other.

[MeekOneGOP]

[MeekOneGOP]

[MeekOneGOP]