***Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - 24 APR 03/Day 36 - LIVE THREAD***

24 APR 03 | An.American.Expatriate

[Mo1]

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Link to the previous thread

Good Morning.

This is the Daily Thread of Operation Iraqi Freedom - Situation Room - LIVE THREAD.

It is designed for general conversation about the events of the day. In depth discussion of events should be left to individual threads - but links to the threads or other articles is highly encouraged. This allows us to stay abreast of the situation in general, while also providing a means of obtaining specific information.

[TexKat]

North Korea has admitted to having nuclear weapons. They are wanting nuclear concessions.

Boy these idiots over across the waters just don't get it. Threatning GWB, one just as well go ahead and commit suicide.

I was watching GWB this morning while he was giving his speech in Ohio and I was just imagining that he was standing there in Chirac's face one on one.

[Dog]

This was in that article....

A man who gave his name as Adel Ahmed Al Dulami told CNN he had been a prisoner at Hakmiyah for 16 months beginning about July 2000, and was not aware of any Americans at the prison during his time there.

There was a prisoner on a lower floor who seemed to get special treatment, he said, but Dulami could not give any details about the prisoner.

[sheikdetailfeather]

Do you think maybe the Russians bought Speicher from the Iraqis for information? I understand that they did this in the past such as the Vietnam war with our pilots.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Welcome back, angelwings. See Carolina's post #330. (^;

[ican'tbelieveit]

Thursday, April 24, 2003

WASHINGTON — North Korea has told the United States that it possesses nuclear weapons, Bush administration sources said Thursday, according to published reports.

Both the Associated Press and Reuters reported that Pyongyang made the admission during its talks in Beijing with the U.S. and China.

A U.S. official told the Associated Press that North Korea (search) may conduct a test of its weapons, although there are no indications a test is imminent. He acknowledged that preparations for an underground test could be concealed.

According to the official, a North Korean nuclear detonation would deplete by half their estimated stockpile of two weapons.

"They said what we always knew -- that they do have weapons," another source told Reuters. "That doesn't shock us. We've been saying that. Now they said it."

"They never used the word testing. ... We're still translating but it's being overplayed a bit," he added.

The talks in Beijing ended with State Department officials saying it was uncertain whether discussions on Pyongyang's nuclear program would continue, although they denied reports that the talks had broken down.

Before the start of the second day's meeting, North Korea accused the United States of leading the region toward war, an apparent attempt by the communist nation to increase pressure on negotiators, according to the U.S. officials.

Earlier, Secretary of State Colin Powell had told a gathering of experts from the Asia-Pacific region that the talks, involving the United States, North Korea and China, had concluded, leaving the impression there would not be a third day of discussions on Friday.

Powell expressed hope that South Korea and Japan would be able to participate "when and if" there is another round of talks.

He added: "North Korea should not leave the meetings having the slightest impression that they might force us to make a concession we would not otherwise make."

In Beijing, the chief U.S. negotiator, Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, declined to answer questions upon returning to his hotel in the afternoon, saying only that the sides "had talks."

Kelly was to fly to Seoul on Friday to meet with South Korean officials.

North Korea continued to try to ratchet up the pressure and is believed to want economic aid in exchange for concessions.

Its leaders are outraged over U.S. moves to cut off oil shipments because of its suspected nuclear weapons program, and fears it is next on Washington's list for military action.

"The situation on the Korean Peninsula is so tense that a war may break out any moment due to the U.S. moves," the North's KCNA news agency.

It said relations with the United States had hit "rock bottom" because President Bush named North Korea as part of an "axis of evil," along with Iran and Iraq.

KCNA said the war in Iraq had shown the only way for a country to protect itself was to have a strong military deterrent. Officials from Seoul and Washington say the swift U.S.-led victory in Iraq prompted North Korea to agree to the nuclear talks.

The North's Korea People's Army vowed to "put all people under arms and turn the whole country into a fortress" and urged its soldiers to become "human bombs and fighters ready to blow up themselves" to protect leader Kim Jong Il (search).

"If the U.S. imperialists and their followers intrude into even an inch of the inviolable sky, land and sea of the (North) ... the (army) will deal merciless deadly blows at the aggressors," North Korean Defense Minister Kim Il Chol was quoted as saying by KCNA.

Still, North Korea said it was ready to settle the dispute over its suspected nuclear weapons programs and that the "master key" for successful talks was for the United States to drop its hostile policy toward Pyongyang.

Late Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Secretary of State Colin Powell talked by phone and agreed that the Beijing talks were beneficial, China's official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The U.S. Embassy and Chinese Foreign Ministry said they had no details of Thursday's discussions. But ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the talks were "conducive to mutual understanding and finding ways to resolve the North Korean nuclear question peacefully."

North Korea and China fought against the United States in the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended without a peace treaty. North Korea and Washington have no formal relations and are still technically at war.

In a likely reference to North Korea's demand for a nonaggression treaty with Washington, KCNA said: "The U.S. should settle the talks from a sincere stand and strive to settle the essential issue."

Washington has refused to offer a formal treaty but says it would consider some sort of written assurance.

China, the North's ally and major aid donor, nevertheless says it doesn't want Pyongyang to acquire nuclear weapons and has appealed for a negotiated settlement to the crisis.

The talks are being led by Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly and Ri Gun, deputy director of American affairs for North Korea's Foreign Ministry. China's delegation is led by Fu Ying, director general of the Asian Affairs Department of its Foreign Ministry.

The United States hopes eventually to include Japan and South Korea in the talks. Kelly briefed South Korean and Japanese diplomats in Beijing following Wednesday's discussions, the U.S. Embassy said. He is scheduled to visit Seoul for meetings immediately after the Beijing talks.

Washington says the North revealed during a visit by Kelly to Pyongyang in October that it was trying to develop nuclear weapons in violation of a 1994 pledge. The North has disputed the U.S. claim.

The North likely wants aid for its economy, which has been crippled by the loss of Soviet subsidies and years of drought and mismanagement.

Since the latest nuclear tensions erupted, Pyongyang has become the first country to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (search) and restarted a plutonium-producing reactor.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,85033,00.html

Now this country scares me. They are starving, and sometimes starving people take drastic measures.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

National Guard and Reserve Mobilized as of Apr. 23, 2003

[Carolina]

There was a prisoner on a lower floor who seemed to get special treatment, he said, but Dulami could not give any details about the prisoner.

Doesn't that give you goose bumps?

[ican'tbelieveit]

Need a definition of special treatment.

[sheikdetailfeather]

I believe these Saudis were from the kings palace and Arnot said they were really checking things out as they walked around Iraq. Arnot said our Pentagon will be happy to hear what they said. Bob tickles me as he is almost childlike in his awe as he reports and he can't wait to go back and discover more to share.

[najida]

I think you have to look at it as remembering that God must have a plan for you if you are still alive in a torture situation. Whether it be a witness to His Glory, or anything else, there is a reason you are still alive. I respect what you are saying, though my view of God has changed radically over the years. The change being that I now believe there is much of life, if not most that appears to happen without purpose or meaning.

And, using your example of dancing. I was an xray tech, very young, when I was diagnosed with the disease I have. I had to give up everything I loved doing, including the job that I cherished. If it weren't for faith, I would be dead now.

And you are a wonderful person because of that! I admire you tremendously. OK, to be honest....I an one of those who has lost all faith over the years. I know it is something I will never have again.

I went to work the morning I suffered the acute injury (which led to the diagnosis I have now), carried my 4yo daughter into the babysitter's. By that night, I could no longer pick her up.

And you still had her though. That is a good thing.....and a reason to get out of bed and continue to live.

[DollyCali]

Pres Bush up .. Fox

[najida]

The Dish guy left 20 minutes ago... I have FOXNEWS again!

[TexKat]

Powell says talks over and warns Pyongyang

April 25 2003

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that three-way talks between North Korea, China and the United States had ended a day earlier than expected and warned Pyongyang that Washington would not respond to threats.

Mr Powell said the talks had "concluded" and that while US and Chinese officials might hold talks on Friday, the North Korean involvement was over. Three days of talks, from April 23 to 25 had been scheduled initially.

While announcing the end of the discussions, Mr Powell delivered a strongly worded warning for North Korea not to make threats as Pyongyang ratcheted up its rhetoric.

"They should not leave this series of discussions that have been held in Beijing with the slightest impression that the United States and its partners and the nations in the region will be intimidated by bellicose statements or by threats or actions they think might get them more attention or might force us to make a concession that we would not otherwise make," he said.

"They would be very ill-advised to move in that direction," Mr Powell said after a speech to the US Asia-Pacific council.

In the address, Mr Powell said all three sides had presented "strong views" in the talks, which were called in an effort to ease the nuclear crisis on the Korean peninsula.

"Strong views were presented, the North Koreans presented their point of view strongly, the Chinese did as well, as did the United States," Mr Powell said.

"The sides will return to their capitals and assess what they heard, analyse proposals that were put down by the parties and determine where we will go next," he said.

As the second day of talks wrapped up, Pyongyang said the situation on the peninsula was "so tense that a war may break out any moment due to the US moves".

AFP

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/25/1050777370030.html

[sheikdetailfeather]

Now the Iraqis need Fox too! Big market for DISH now. hahaha! How about a helicopter drop of leaflets?

[Dog]

Bush hitting a homerun..

[ican'tbelieveit]

Yeap, but I have witnessed many other things. My brother's wife passed away from breast cancer at 36. He had to make the decision to pull her off of life support. Talk about a reason to lose faith.

How unfair to take her. She had 3 munchkins that she adored. She used to sew the girls dresses for holidays... Christmas, Easter. Was an incredible cook. Just so many things. But you know what, I am going to see her again some day. And that is good enough for me.

And to take Scott Speicher... he has little boys to live for. If he doesn't get to see them again in this life, I hope that he knew Christ as his personal Savior, and they the same so they can be reunited.

Anyway, point being, we all have something to live for no matter what may trip us up in life.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Oh yeah, not sure how long these threads get anymore, so congrats on 350, :-D.

[TexKat]

Oh you've got nuclear weapons and.

We've got nuclear weapons and then some. Don't mess with GWB.

And I still say this is a good day for GWB to be in Chirac's face and Kim's saying boys you don't want to fluctuate with me.

[najida]

Now the Iraqis need Fox too! Big market for DISH now. hahaha! How about a helicopter drop of leaflets?
______

I agree...
Seriously (or series, or cereal or whatever)....

They need Foxraqi TV....Complete with their own version of Hannity and Colmes (a Shi'ite and a Kurd maybe?)

[ican'tbelieveit]

I figure we should strike while the striking is hot. If need be, force NK to make the first move. But we have the most powerful military in the world right now, everyone knows it. Don't give them a chance to catch up to our technology.