Posted on 01/23/2003 6:19:34 PM PST by knak
Senators said Thursday the Bush administration needs to convince the American people and U.S. allies that war may be needed against Iraq.
More than 50 senators received a closed-door briefing on Iraq from Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said the secretaries weren't notifying Congress of a decision to use military force in Iraq. The administration said that has not been determined.
Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said Rumsfeld and Powell laid out a stronger case than the administration had before about why force might be needed to stop Saddam. But he said the information would not be strong enough to persuade reluctant allies, like France and did not convince him that the United States should act against Iraq without more support.
"It would seem to me to be by far the better part of wisdom to have an aggressive inspections regime buttressed by our intelligence, so that we are providing them cues on where to go," he said.
The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin of Michigan, said the United States has just begun to share information with the U.N. inspectors. "And my view is that there is a significant way to go before we share the information," he said.
Rumsfeld told reporters as he left the Capitol "the inspectors are being provided with an enormous amount of information already."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he agrees with President Bush's handling of Iraq, but believes the president needs to explain to the American people "why we as Americans should shoulder the burden the money burden, the human sacrifice."
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said she was concerned about opposition from U.S. allies. "I think it would be very difficult for us to pursue this without military and monetary support," she said.
The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., said Powell will continue working with France and other countries on the U.N. Security Council after Monday's report by chief weapons inspector Hans Blix.
Want to bet?
That is the card the Dems are going to work, they will leverage that fact for political gain...
Bush will be forced to sell short his agenda, appease liberals, to buy their support on the commitment to action we have postured ourselves to...
He [Bush] will barter somthing away because otherwise we are screwed royally.
I can't believe his team didn't see this coming...
Some serious political capital is gonna be pissed down the RAT hole...
Bush doesn't need to appease anybody.
Once the cocked pistol is fired, the rest is action. Then the blood is up, and everyone wants the team to come out victorious.
No matter what Carl Levin says.
Bush knows this. He's just letting everyone show their hands before he slams down the full house, Aces high.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Cool.
You posted, "...before we finally do go to war with Iraq, which will probably be about six months before the next presidential election. "
I predict we'll invade Iraq within a year from today. I'll bet you a dollar, mailed with a signed letter saying, "you were right, and I am a fool for questioning your superior wisdom."
FR posting rights are assumed. In other words, whoever wins, the other can post the bet, and the contents of the letter.
Do we have a bet? Or are you going to weasel out of your "six months before the election" prediction?
Closets one wins, as per you.
Want in on the bet?
Actually, no. While a standdown now would indeed push the next likely window of attack a year or two out, that is exactly why it won't happen. The administration knows it will go in the next month or two, or it won't go.
My thoughts exactly. He has bought the time needed by the military to mobilize. In the process he has managed to get Dems and Republicans on the record regarding the proper course of action given the known information. In general the Republicans have agreed and Dems have kept saying, "We need more, we need more", knowing full well that the case has been made. The Dems are banking on the American people never seeing the info they were shown.
In due time, the entire story will be told. The Dems will have to answer for a lot.
He's already got Congressional authorization to go. He needs merely to inform them of the progress of the war. He is unlikely to even tell them the date of the attack. He's already got the go code.
I believe you are right. In those blackest of foul hearts that inform their souls they secretly desire a military debacle, tens of thousands dead, bodies they can stand on and preach, "See we opposed this war; Bush ignored us and killed your sons. You cannot undo these deaths, but you can do something good. You can give us power."
When Hillary dreams, it is of blood and power.
All the comments right now from both sides are posture. Back room deals are getting cut as we post. Those deals will manifest themselves in how fervently Bush moves our agenda forward, as well as how stalwart his defense is in repealing attacks...on that agenda..
Don't at all be surprised if you find yourself surprised with the Administrations pursuit or defense of issues counter to what Dems love to whore out.
Deals are getting cut daily in Washington. There is a Lions share of political capital on the table right now!
To think otherwise is naive.
Commitments to War are Political EarthQuakes...
Bookmarking.
My point is that: Its gonna cost politcally on the domestic and economic agenda. No doubt we are going. The decision has already been made. It has been made such that we are in Baghdad by the end of February.
But watch the softness from the Administration on domestic policy agenda issues in the future.
Those deals are being made right now.
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