[Bayou City]

"Ronald Reagan said to Mikhail Gorbachev, `Tear down that wall'," Fleischer reminded the White House press corps on Tuesday. "He didn't say `Would you mind making it a little shorter?' He spoke with moral clarity and, as a result, the world is a better place."

Great line.

[OKCSubmariner]

What this aricle says about Russia and Iraq does not give the complete picture. Iraq can count on Russia diplomatically and militarily to at least provide political cover and weapons. Russia's Communist KGB leader Vladimer Putin warned Bush last week and the week before that not to take military action agsint Iraq.

Russia is helping Iraq and Iran and should not be trusted in my opinion.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Even if an insurrection could be mounted successfully, who would take Saddam's place? The Iraqi opposition is notoriously weak and divided.

Saudi Arabia would be fearful of the risks of Iran seeking to create a de facto satellite state among the Shia population of southern Iraq. Likewise, Turkey would be concerned by the prospects of agitation for a Kurdish homeland that might seek to unite parts of northern Iraq with rebel forces in Turkey's south-east. As for tiny Jordan, how would it cope with another influx of Iraqi refugees?

Moreover, Iraq has succeeded in negotiating a string of sweetheart deals with Turkey, Jordan and Syria, providing oil to its neighbours at heavily discounted prices. They have been warned by Baghdad that any support for US strategy, either overt or covert, would see their supply lines cut.

Some warning, only valid for as long as Saddam controls those supply lines. Well, except for Syria.