[usafsk]

Another ostrich-like post from Stratfor. First, Powell said in his news conference that any successor regime must accept the unchallenged entry of the US forces. This position was reinforced later in the day by Fliescher. Do these guys at Stratfor have a TV?

Maybe Axciom, who obviously works for Stratfor and is just trying to lure us to their website to sign up for more drivel, should just give up. They're analyses have only gotten more ludicrous as the war approaches.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[kosciuszko]

No matter what Powell said, things would be complicated immensely if Hussein left. The Americans would have to wait another month, at least, before they could prove that they still had to use force to destroy the weapons of mass destruction. Use your imagination. Everyone and their mother's uncle would be screaming that it's time to go home.

If you can find a better analysis of what's going on, please post it. In the meantime, give Axion a break. He's providing an excellent service. Go ahead and disagree. But please, there's no reason to get nasty.

[Dog Gone]

This is perhaps the worst column by Stratfor in months. Unbelievably out of touch.

Saddam leaving was never a possibility. No offer of asylum was arranged, nor encouraged. No guarantee of safe passage was offered, nor guarantee that we would not pursue him for the rest of his life. It was no offer at all.

It was made to give the world formal warning to get out of Baghdad, and to make one last gesture to avoid war.

But the most important thing was to cut off any possibility for Saddam to make another gesture toward cooperation. He can't suddenly find some more papers to turn over and still get out of it, or split the coalition.

Stratfor is completely clueless in this article.