[LS]

I disagree. While I do NOT think we need anyone's "approval" to do anything, it did not hurt to go to the UN---it a) bought us time, that we needed anyway, to get our troops in place. Now, instead of just waiting, it "looks" like the inspectors are "doing a job." All baloney, as you and I know; b) it gives the pretense (probably genuine in the case of the Bush admin.) of wanting to build a "coalition" and have the UN involved. In reality, this gave the UN one last chance to APPEAR to be relevant, and they are blowing it.

So I don't see the harm. We are doing what we were going to do anyway, and in the process proved the UN irrelevant and stupid. I'd say, that's a deal!

[chiller]

Complete dittos, LS.

As to lack of support on UN Security Council; Did we ever expect support?

[Puppage]

How about the fact that Iraq has broken 23 articles of surrender from the LAST time we went to war with them?? Does that mean anything to ANYONE?We you are defeated in war, you sign the articles of surrender....break ONE, and the war can be resume IMMEDIATELY.They have broken 23 at last count. WE DO NOT NEED THE ANTI-AMERICAN UN FOR ANYTHING!

[Stefan Stackhouse]

The real sleeper issue here isn't the UN, per se, but whether NATO can continue to exist as a mutual alliance after "No" votes by France and Germany.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Unfortunately, going to the U.N. also bought us time to see one hell of an anti-war movement around the world. This is the downside that I see. Not that it will matter in the end, however. I believe that the protesters should be harping on saddam and asking him why he continues to lie to the world rather than scoffing at GWB's effort to ameliorate the Iraq problem once and for all. It must be that the protestors do not want war at any cost for any reason, which is an unrealistic -- if admirable -- want.

[templar]

So I don't see the harm.

The harm, as I see it, is that we have acknoweldged the UN as a superior power to ourselves. People, or nations, only need to seek permission from their superiors, not their inferiors.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Also, instead of going to the U.N. months ago, we could have begun the troop buildup months ago. Just a thought.

[FreeReign]

I disagree. While I do NOT think we need anyone's "approval" to do anything, it did not hurt to go to the UN---it a) bought us time, that we needed anyway, to get our troops in place. Now, instead of just waiting, it "looks" like the inspectors are "doing a job." All baloney, as you and I know; b) it gives the pretense (probably genuine in the case of the Bush admin.) of wanting to build a "coalition" and have the UN involved. In reality, this gave the UN one last chance to APPEAR to be relevant, and they are blowing it.

IMO, your comments are correct.

[Grampa Dave]

We will be still sending ground troops and other land support groups after we start really attcking Iraq on or about 1 Feb..

Everyday here on the West Coast there is a news story of more Marines, troops, Air Force and Navy ships/personnel heading out. Friday's radio news was loaded with this info.

We needed this time to get our people over and to be ready after our air arms start to bang away.

Of course the perpetual whiners about President Bush are incapable of recognizing that reality. As usual they will be proven to be wrong way whiners.

[angkor]

In our (unarticulated) war against Islamism, we are going to destabilize the entire Middle East. That is the plan, even though the White House won't dare say it. I consider this a good thing.

The dithering in the Security Council has nothing to do with Saddam or Iraq per se, but rather about the consequences of removing him, and how to contain and manage the regional chaos that will certainly ensue.

Problem is, we want the destabilization, because that's the only practical way to defuse the slide toward Islamism in the Middle East. And in particular that's the only way to upset the logistics (recruiting, communications, money) of the Islamists, which are partly dependent upon tacit state sponsorship by Iran, Iraq, Saudi, and Pakistan.

This is only tangentially about Saddam.

[Howlin]

As usual, you are right on the money.

[BrucefromMtVernon]

UN: OUT! of North America!!