[Sabertooth]

Great thread, Howlin.

The President's speech was magnificent. I'm not sure to what it compares. Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech, or Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech come to mind, but fall short.

If those speeches were perhaps more poetic, it's because poetry wasn't called for today. This was not a speech whose principle aim was to be memorable or inspiring, though it will be. Today's aim was force immediate, specific and unequivocal action on the part of both the United Nations and Iraq, and to gird America for the consequences either way.

Today's speech was like a legal brief, but a legal brief like artillery, designed to obliterate every wall of resistance before our armor rolls, and to leave the sympathizers with Saddam no platform for complaint when it does. That Iraq will ultimately resist is not in doubt, for in the grip of his megalomania, Saddam Hussein is pathologically unable to embrace any fate other than the fiery phantom of his idol, Nebuchadnezzar, and unable to lead Iraq to any destiny other than ruin.

President Bush has now given the United Nations a choice as a body: relevance or oblivion.

Either way, our armor will roll.

[CJinVA]

What did President Bush say about an American POW not being returned after the war? I missed that part.

[Joe Brower]

Well stated, Sabertooth, as always.

[ohioWfan]

Brilliant analysis, Sabertooth. Thanks!

I know I've told you before, but you do have a way with words!

[Wphile]

Amen, saber. Let's roll.

[rdb3]

Well said. I'm proud to call this man my President.

[Oregon W.oman]

You are so right. I did not hear Bush asking for permission to do anything in this speech - just laying out the facts.
He's not going to be sitting around waiting on the UN to give us an okay. He told them that Saddam has humiliated them and their 'resolutions' and if they are not tough enough to make the right decision - he is.

[MissAmericanPie]

Thanks for the ping, it was a great speech. Clear, reasoned, and drew a line in the Iraqi sand between the choices the U.N. must make between backing up what they claim to uphold, or be seen as a body that issue's worthless paper sanctions signifying nothing.

Bush really took the bull by the horns today.

[ArneFufkin]

Hey, tooth, I appreciate you pinging me to threads of interest. I do read them all, but I don't usually jump in - I've pretty much stated my case on how to address the real problems we have with our borders and the millions of illegals. But, I do read the items. Thanks.

[rdb3]

And now I turn to the "Ditto-Cam" to hear his reaction.

[BOBTHENAILER]

President Bush has now given the United Nations a choice as a body: relevance or oblivion. Either way, our armor will roll.

Very well said. I saw the speech in the same manner. No subtlety at all, just blunt force trauma.

None of the sinkmaster's verbose dodging and weaving, touchy feely you gotta agree with me bullsh!t. Bush's speech reminded me of a quote from a tank commander during the Gulf War. He described the air force as the sword that would slice through initial resistance. He described his tank group as the "Hammer that would punch through Saddam's armor and beat his 'godd@mn brains out."

[colorado tanker]

You summed it up admirably. A great speech giving clear choices at a defining moment for the U.S. and the U.N. The trap door just shut on the opposition hiding behind the "hasn't made his case" line.

[A CA Guy]

I agree with you 100.1%.

[Paulus Invictus]

Given his negative, ranted reponse to the Bush speech on 9/11, Savage will savage this one too.

[rightofrush]

It's gonna happen.