The message from the Bush camp: 'It's war within weeks'

Guardian/UK ^ | 1/24/03 | Julian Borger in Washington, Ewen MacAskill and Simon Tisdall

[Fifth Business]

Please forgive my second question to you when I wrote this:

Are you aware that the song lyrics you recite are a diatribe against American imperialism and the homogeneity of American culture? It's cute, but it's all tongue-in-cheek and idealogically at odds with our current Iraq policy. If you are aware of it, are you trolling?

I went back and read your posting history, and I don't think you were trolling.

[dodger]

The decadent Europeans will think Mt. Etna blew.

But Americans -- decadent or otherwise -- know that Monica blew ... (and nigh on this day in history!).

[Man of the Right]

How can we forget?

[jbstrick]

Settle down. Many of us here have friends involved in this thing.

[gingerky]

You can call me stupid but why 1979?

[John Lenin]

Cowboys and Arabs

[thepitts]

It is time, as they say, to sh*t or get off the pot.

I have been wondering and waiting to see how long it would take for even loyal freepers to begin to question the wisdom in an extended aproach to the war. Time is running out.

[Poohbah]

To quote David Bowie:

"LET'S DANCE!

"Under the moonlight, the serious moonlight!"

[PhiKapMom]

Do you know anything about how long it takes us to get our troops in position to do something?

In the Gulf War, we flew empty cargo planes into Saudi at night so that Sadaam would think we were building up faster than we were. Logistics of getting everyone in place is a nightmare and cannot be done overnight.

Why do you think he agreed to go to the UN -- it bought us time go get ready.

Maybe some folks around here should go work for Logistics Command and find out how hard it is to get everything coordinated, troops called up, and materiel and equipment transported. Then you might rethink your statement!

This President is not guided by polls -- he is guided by what he feels is right for this Nation. We will go when he is convinced our troops are in place and ready and not a moment sooner. Well General Franks has said we are now READY so the timing for the launch is probably getting close.

Time to quit being armchair quarterbacks and let the people that have all the intelligence and details do their job!

[Joe Hadenuf]

Oh goodie. KILL KILL KILL, WITH COLD BLUE STEEL....WIPE UM OUT, KILL!

[stevem]

I realize there are myriad preparations to be made for this, but, in all fainess, if it's time, then let's get in on and stop talking about it. The longer they talk about it the more they deaden the senses of a few more Americans.

[Joe Hadenuf]

KILL KILL KILL, WITH COLD BLUE STEEL.......YEAH!

[SamAdams76]

This isn't a fricken football game and instead of being fan-like in the adoration of the President, how about wishing the troops good skill, luck and Godspeed. They're the ones that deserve it most.

No need for the sanctimonious lecture here. I see nothing but support for our troops on this website and all of us wish them well. Many of us here (myself included) serve or have served in the military ourselves. BTW, support for the president and support for the troops are not mutually exclusive.

[Howlin]

The "Adlai Stevenson moment" has become Washington shorthand for the US presentation of its intelligence case.

How long have we been saying that? Months? Nice to see them catching up.

[RobbyS]

This President is not guided by polls -- he is guided by what he feels is right for this Nation. We will go when he is convinced our troops are in place and ready and not a moment sooner. Well General Franks has said we are now READY so the timing for the launch is probably getting close. I think you are right.

[speekinout]

We will go when he is convinced our troops are in place and ready and not a moment sooner

Yes. I would guess that Bush is also frustrated at how long this is taking, but I don't think he will move until the troops have everything they need to be successful and to minimize casualties on their part.
I think he would rather lose points in the polls than lose troops.

[PhiKapMom]

I agree with you -- he would rather drop in the polls than lose troops because of being too hasty!

[L`enn]

I would assume he meant , as I would , that the start of the current "us vs them" began with the exile of the Shah of Iran.

[L`enn]

A one hour show on the History Channel and a spot on "On the Record" last week have been the clearest examples of why we need to go in. Much clearer points than anyone in the administration has made to date.

Now I as someone that agrees with Imus, that we should invade Iraq, one, because we can, and two, because it would be fun, I have to say that a member of the great unwashed sheeple community, watching all of this out of the corner of their eye, just might think "why do we need to go to War?". Of course our lovely media has a lot to do with this, but in my mind we are not winning the debate. And it is a winnable debate. And it is frustrating not seeing it won.

[L`enn]

I tend to agree with you, but with one caveat. All through this administration, I have been frustrated with various issues and how they are being handled by the administration. Then all of a sudden, voila, the President pulls off a brilliant move and satisfies me. Well, until the next issue, and then the cycle repeats itself, my impatience, followed with a perfectly timed deft stroke.

President Bush has so far managed to come up on the right side of the issue and done the right thing, not to my timetable, but to his. I am sure this is how this will play out also.