Jonathan Rhodes
17 January 2003
There is no other way.
"It is the inadequacy of all the other options toward Iraq that leads us to the last resort of a full-scale invasion. Containment is eroding, and it is no longer realistic to believe it can be revived in a meaningful sense and sustained over time to prevent Saddam Hussein from acquiring nuclear weapons. Relying on pure deterrence to keep Saddam at bay once he has acquired a nuclear arsenal is terrifyingly dangerous. It is likely to find us confronting a Hobson's choice of either allowing Saddam to make himself the hegemon of the Gulf region (and in effect or actuality controlling global oil supplies) or else fighting a war with him that could escalate to nuclear warfare."
"Sometimes history presents us with unpleasant choices. On those occasions, the worst thing we can do is avoid making the hard choice. In the case of Iraq, we need to recognize that we have run out of alternatives and our options truly have come down to a dangerous deterrence or a potentially costly invasion." Kenneth M. Pollack, PhD, The Threatening Storm. Director for Gulf Affairs, National Security Council - Clinton Administration.
Northern Front: Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, is set to hold weekend talks in Turkey with Turkish government and military officials. The Turks will exact a price for further contributions to the war effort. The United States on Thursday cleared the way for the sale of military helicopters to Turkey. Officials also said the Bush administration is assembling an aid package for Turkey that could total as much as $14 billion to help mitigate the economic shock of a war with Iraq.
Western Front: Jordan, expected to lose $1 Billion/year in Iraqi trade, said today Jordan has "received promises" from unnamed Arab countries to supply it with oil if the Iraqi flow ceased. Officials had previously mentioned Kuwaiti and Saudi oil as potential sources. Jordan's King Abdullah II said his cash-strapped kingdom was "promised financial aid to compensate for some of the losses which may be incurred."
Southern Front: 100,000+ US troops, amphibious and ground in Kuwait and en route.
Air Force/Naval Forces: On Station, mid-east.
UN: On Monday January 27, Hans Blix will report to the UN that Saddam is not fulfilling his defined "proactive" role in assisting the inspectors. There will be cries of "There must be another way" besides war. Unless Saddam does an about face, ("The people of Baghdad have resolved to compel the Mongols of this age to commit suicide on its walls.")
There is no other way.
