[daviddennis]

These people have cojones, that's for sure, and yes, they all deserve our respect and appreciation.

This all being said, does anyone here feel any serious doubt that Saddam:

• Wants weapons of mass destruction very badly
• Will do anything he feels he can get away with to get them
• If he gets them, is prepared to use them.

If you do feel serious doubt, read Saddam's Bombmaker, the absorbing insider account of this nice chap who was dragooned against his better judgement into designing Saddam's atomic bomb program. One of the more amusing facts in the book is that he loves America thanks to his kind treatment while he was educated here. He had to be threatened with the usual torture and murder routine to be forced back to Iraq.

The more I learn about Iraq, the harder it is to accept the European viewpoint that we should have peace through concessions. Strength and bravery are the only languages Saddam understands. All else is weakness.

D

[RandyRep]

Good points.

The best case scenario here is that W's poker moves to date flush Saddam out - he either abdicates/exiles or is overthrown by Iraqi people, and democracy blooms in Baghdad. I think many people hope that this is what happens.

The worst case scenario is that we get fire in the oil fields, anthrax on our troops, and in Israel, and a mushroom cloud over Kuwait, and have to deal with it. This is what W and the team fear might happen.

It would not surprise me to see France and Russia make the case to Saddam that he has to open his kimono, and make a deal with Saddam to go into exile. I think this could happen. If so, it puts us in a bind as to how to deal with post-Saddam Iraq.