Mark Steyn: Can America be serious?

The Spectator (U.K.) ^ | 01/11/03 | Mark Steyn

[Wolfstar]

Hi Satan: Even though I believe the anthrax used in the 2001 attacks came from Iraq, I have hoped against hope that it would not deter the president from taking Hussein out. But lately, despite the military build-up, the rhetoric coming from both the U.S. and Britain has softened a lot. I think even if the president still wants to go after Hussein, so much time and momentum have been wasted that I fear public opinion may have swung against doing it. Maybe I'm over-reacting, but something just "feels" different. I mean, when the President of the United States says that Hussein "still has time," I take that as a signal we are backing away from a confrontation.

[Wolfstar]

Way cool graphic. Did you create it? If not, where did you acquire it?

[nicmarlo]

another excellent article by Steyn. And I was just asked about Iraq vs. Korea the other day...which should be of more concern and why. I'll print this out and let my friend read so many valid points.

[bonfire]

Or buying time?

[The Great Satan]

Once you understand the implications of the sample of powder contained in the letter to Daschle, the whole situation becomes transparently clear. OTOH, if you don't understand the implications of that powder, you haven't a hope in hell of understanding what has been happening the last 16 months.

[Wolfstar]

What do you believe is the reason the administration even bothered to go down this saber-rattling path with Iraq despite the anthrax attacks?

[Hugin]

I could not agree more with Steyn's analysis in this piece. As much as I love and respect President Bush, I've got a sinking feeling that there will NOT be any war in Iraq to take out Saddam.

And just what do you think the tens of thousands of reserves are being called up from their civilian jobs and sent to the gulf at a cost of billions of dollars for?

We are going in when we are ready. We don't need to prove anything ahead of time. There will be plenty of proof afterward.

[Allan]

Bump

[Cuttnhorse]

I'm with you wolfie...great Steyn article.

[beckett]

Take a look at a satellite picture of the peninsula by night: South Korea ablaze in electric light, the North in darkness.

OK, Mark, we will:

North Korea at Night

[gcruse]

Why aren't people screaming for Bush to go to the UN about North Korea?

Because he has said we won't attack them, I imagine.

[mrustow]

Kraut's a Canuck? Didn't know that. I just knew he was a member of the Crips.

[mrustow]

Nobel Peanut Prize winner Jimmy Carter

ROTFLMAO

I thought for sure, someone would have mentioned that, but through #30, I didn't find anyone, and I sure as heck wasn't going to let myself get beat by #65, while I was hunting through posts!

[mrustow]

Dang!

[okie01]

Besides munitions build-up and re-positioning of military assets, there is one other reason for delay. An even better reason.

Would you agree that the weaponized anthrax spores were probably mailed by Islamic terrorists? And that the terrorists probably got them from Iraq? And that there was probably plenty more where that came from? And that a few kilos worth might have already been smuggled into the US?

This is, at any rate, the assumption that the administration is likely working under. Consequently, the primary reason for delay has been to locate and isolate the anthrax stash and its keepers. And to institute civil defense measures that can effectively deal with a domestic biowarfare attack.

When Bush is confident that this risk has been minimized, we'll move on Saddam. But not a moment before...

[The Great Satan]

What do you believe is the reason the administration even bothered to go down this saber-rattling path with Iraq despite the anthrax attacks?

Consider the alternative.

[Mo1]

PLEASE SUPPORT FREE REPUBLIC

Donate Here By Secure Server

Or mail checks to
FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794
or you can use
PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com

Become A Monthly Donor
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks for the ping, friend =^)

[JohnHuang2]

Mark Steyn Mega PING!!

[JohnHuang2]

Thank you, too, for the ping.