[Oldeconomybuyer]

Tick, tock, tick, tock ...

[Dog]

What is the weather like right now in Iraq???

[pankot]

Ah Ha! The old Blitzkrieg trick!

[KellyAdmirer]

Time to disregard what the other world leaders might think and just go about our business over there. Saddam is like a cancer, the pain remains as long as he is there, and he isn't going away by himself short of death from old age. See Castro, Fidel for the foolishness of the "waiting game" policy.

[Semper Paratus]

Today's developments:
1) Bush met with congressional leaders at breakfast.
2) All US officials out of Baghdad since Monday.
3) Bush meeting with Eastern Orthodox Leaders.
4) Kurds announce new Iraqi Constitution.
5) New moon is today.

Maybe nothing is going to happen, but I'll be close to the media late this afternoon.

[arkfreepdom]

It must be fun to f&%^ with Sadaam's head almost daily.

[The Great Satan]

Unfortunately, Saddam's retaliation could be sudden, too.

Forget about the idea of military strike to remove Saddam Hussein. You don't strike someone who's holding a knife against your throat. But, as President Bush reminded us the other day in this regard, there is more than one way to skin a cat -- and George Bush is a very patient man.

[McGruff]

Is it just me or is the media deliberately trying to warn Saddam of any potential attack?

[Right_in_Virginia]

But...doesn't the president have to wait until Biden says it's okay?

[Tallguy]

"We could have a situation where on Monday, it first looks like there will be a war, on Friday troops are in Kuwait, and by (the next) Thursday they're in Baghdad," said John Pike, a defense analyst in Washington.

Pike is full of it, as usual. While all of this is theoretically within the capabilities of the US military, there's no way the US Army is going to move without adequate preparation of the battlefield -- including extensive bombing by tactical and strategic aircraft. Even Schwarzkopf wanted the Iraqi army attrited before he unleashed the ground war.

I still look for a long buildup, but with the troops based further away (beyond Scud range) than during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The troops will rapidly close on their jump-off points from these new bases, but it'll still take a 6 month buildup.

[ClearCase_guy]

Logistics isn't really my thing, and I have no doubt that the US military can prepare for an attack very quietly, however ...

This article talks about 50,000 men and (I assume) heavy equipment to supply the same number. I hope we have a way to provide reinforcements. American pride tells me 50,000 is plenty -- but no smart commander would attack Iraq with 50,000 men and no way to reinforce quickly.

[Jumper]

The attack on Iraq is merely to sever this country into three separate states; one state of Kurds with oil, one state of Turkomans with oil and a buffer to Turkey and the Kurds... and then Iraq proper deprived of both oil and a military machine under surgical strikes designed to topple Saddam.

This is the Iraq battal plan, and plan which will take pressure off Israel, and the final defeat of Syria, Iran and their remaining state sponsored terrorist machines which openly operate; from there the war on terrorism will be long but without State funding they will eventually be worn down and defeated.

The US dollar will jump, oil prices will drop, energy supplies around the world will increase and alternate sources of oil and gas around the world will not be subjected to disruption by Islam!. The Saudi's will be given a final chance to do business or else the House of Saud' will too fall.

[chiefqc]

The distant thunder keeps getting louder and louder.

[SGCOS]

Not to be a disruptor, but I don't see an attack on Iraq unless and until the Harken, Holiburton and Judicial Watch lawsuit gets some legs.

Just my opinion.

[M Kehoe]

The great thing about all these leaks/reports is that the Iraqi intellegence reads them and tells sadaam. Sooner or later, after crying wolf for a while, sadaam will shoot his intellegence officers. Regardless, the butcher of Baghdad doesn't sleep well at night.

Clear your calendar sadaam, you will be very busy, soon.

5.56mm

[Thinkin' Gal]

Who is like Bush?

[Aric2000]

So, Bush says that it is OK to whack a political leader, mainly Saddam, tells the CIA to get to it. The CIA says, we know he is in Baghdad, but we need him to move around to get a shot at him. OK, disinformation campaign coming right up. Get Saddam nervous enough to move from his palace and take him out enroute to a bunker on the outskirts of Baghdad, taking out the rest of his leadership and his son at the same time.

Just as likely as anything else I suppose!!

[CIB-173RDABN]

This is what I really enjoy about FreeRepublic, news and some serious discussion.

I am no expert in military planning, but I would guess we have been moving equipment into the area since September 12th.

I agree with the person that pointed out the real problem is the Scuds, and the type of payload that can be delivered. I am sure we were able to convince Saddam in the first war there would be some serious consequences if biological or chemical weapons were used. But this time around he knows he is a dead man. Regardless of any other goals, his death is close to the top of the list. He has little to lose by using his biological and chemical weapons.

Again, if I had to guess, I would say we are spending time tracking down those Scuds so that they can be taken out in a first strike. I would also guess we are working on some sort of missile defense for our troops and Israel.

I do not believe there will be a big build up, I think it will be a surprise to almost everyone (especially those in the media who have not gotten anything right.

The only thing I am sure of is that Saddam is a dead man walking.

[chuknospam]

I kinda like the idea of sending in the spooks and hearing about how Sadaam dies in a suspicious bathtub drowning or camel accident.

[Kermit]

I believe once a serious attack begins, Saddam's regime is going to collapse like a house of cards. Would you want to be the last Iraqi to die for Saddam?

[Conservative Chicagoan]

This is good news. I hope we teach this Muslim dictator a lesson real soon!