Are you a cat?
Posted on 07/30/2002 3:57:29 PM PDT by knak
Arbil, Iraq Press, July 30 - Tens of thousands of residents are moving out of Baghdad to more secure sites as fears mount that the United States will soon unleash a massive air and missile bombardment of the Iraqi capital.
The fears are real this time as many of them believe that Washington is now serious in its bid to topple the regime of President Saddam Hussein.
Residents tell Iraq Press they hope the United States will translate its bellicose rhetoric against Saddam into reality sooner rather than later.
Previously, they knew the attacks would only be pin-pricks. But now most of them take U.S. President George W. Bush's vows to bring about a regime change in Baghdad seriously.
The unprecedented security and emergency measures taken by the regime to ward off an attack have added to the anxiety and fear which has gripped the residents in Baghdad.
The threats of an imminent U.S. attack has reportedly prompted many residents to search for alternative and temporary dwellings in Baqouba, Mahmoudiay, Hilla, Karbala and Najaf.
The economy, relying heavily on U.N.-monitored imports of food and other essential supplies, has deteriorated further recently, with the Iraqi dinar hitting lows unseen in the past two years.
Prices of food and other commodities have skyrocket ed as residents are using their savings to buy urgent needs fearing a massive U.S. military attack may lead to a disruption of supplies.
Meantime, the security services have stepped up their measures, blocking major roads leading to sensitive areas like the presidential complex in Baghdad.
Security has been intensified at highways leading to Baghdad and also in areas close to Saddam International Airport where members of the Special Security Force control all the approaches to a maze of palaces and villas owned by Saddam and members of his family.
Someone needs to inform those poor people that groups in flight may be confused with Iraqi military.
What's the matter, don't they have cars over there?
Read Saddam's Bombmaker, by Khidir Hamza. Hamza ran Saddam's nuclear program for several years until he defected in 1996.
Saddam gassed innocent Iraqi civilians just to test his chemical weapons before using them in combat. If nobody stops him, he will, most certainly, have a nuke before 2005. And if he is capable of using one against a US or allied target, he will do so. The man is totally ruthless, and, if he thinks he's going down, he will try to take as many of his enemies (that's you and me, bub) with him as he can.
Read the book if you don't believe me.
I dream of unlimited Daisy-Cutter targeting authority! I am weary of precision guided munitions and very much in the mood for overwhelming, yet environmentally safe,(historically speaking) brute force.
I would much rather throw Daiseys at my enemy than nukes.Do not get me wrong, I am entirely comfortable employing nukes, but I really, truly, love the Daisy!
...and visions of triangles dance in her head...
Jump: I am not really sure, but I think you are right on.
I think you'r right, startchme.
Are you a cat?
Not Hillary's healthcare proposal, nothing is bigger than that.
But, even if the war budget is the biggest item in the budget, so what?
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