Russia and China Back Germany and France

It is everyone else including the Chinese, who are dependant on the stability of a massive and robust American economy and market -- not the other way round.

Absolutely On Target! Let 'em go it without us. Remember the lame threat of some of the oil producers a few months ago to refuse to sell to us? How far did that go? Just about the only economy in the world that is even close to robust is ours, despite our current minor weakness. The others' pale in comparison. They all know the US is the linchpin of the world's economy, and can imagine the consequences of serious pulling away from us, so that is that.

Regarding the UN: Frankly, the UN has at times been useful idiots for us, but for the past 30 years that usefulness has rapidly diminished. President Bush has masterfully demonstrated (whether that was his intention or not) the increasing impotence of that body. If the Chinese, Russians and France choose to break from responsibility like spoiled children, they know they do so at the peril to the UN body itself, so I will not be at all surprised if they relent in the end. Where else is France so powerful? By allowing the UN to be emasculated by failing to rise to responsibility they emasculate themselves.

I really don't care either way. If the UN goes the way of the League of Nations like this, good riddance. If they decide to do our bidding this time, fine, useful idiots...

When we first went to the UN, it avoided taking any responsible action. It fought to stall until January 27th. Nothing could happen until Saddam was given a chance to come into compliance. If he didn't the inspectors would report it on January 27th and action would be taken if Saddam wasn't in compliance.

Now we've got Hans Blix admitting several things. The 12,000 page document wasn't forthcoming. Iraq is not in compliance. Things we knew existed haven't been accounted for. These are two matrial breahes. Despite this, Blix now calls the January 27th date merely a reporting date of no significance. It started out as a deadline.

What's to say that if we join in an August 17th date (or any other) that when that date rolled around, Blix and the UN wouldn't morph that into one more reporting date of no significance, not the deadline that we all agreed on up front, like we did with January 27th? Answer, nothing at all.

Hussein has had ten years to come into compliance with the world communities demands. He has violated no fly zones. He has fired on surveylance planes. He has massed large numbers of troops near Kuwait's border serveral times. He has send his troops deep into Kurdish regions in an attempt to intimidate them. He has taken billions in oil revenues intended to help feed his citizens and provide healthcare, and turned it into weapons funding. All these are violations of agreements that ended the Gulf War.

Hussein has pushed the limits in every respect possible for ten years. US leadership is sick and tired of it. The US leadership is asking the UN to stand firm against Iraq. Kofi Annan simply ignores the US, refusing to make Hussein accountable at any stage of the game.

We could continue to play this game for one month, six months, one year, five or ten more years, the upshot of the whole thing is that Iraq will develop nukes just as North Korea has, and we'll be unable to get the UN to react even then.

Why would you suggest that we push back the firm date to demand Hussein comply? What would we benefit? France, Germany and Russia agreed to the January 27th cutoff date. What difference does it make if they agree to another, if they aren't going to honor this one?

Let's remember that nobody wanted us to enter Afghanistan. We were told that we would wind up like Russia, bogged down in an unwinable war. In actuality we have remolded that nation into one with a new stabalized currency that has replaced four different currencies before it. Now a banking system is being set up that will see loans going to businesses. Afghanistan is making some pretty good strides.

I am convinced that the Iraqi people are going to be very appreciative of the removal of Hussein. If handled properly, neither Iraq or Afghanistan will advance terrorist business in the future. If students can bring about a change in Iran, the whole region would be changed for the better.

If we wait for the UN and our lackluster allies, this process will never be completed.

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