Posted on 08/03/2002 5:12:09 PM PDT by Pokey78
President George W. Bush will announce within weeks that he intends to depose Iraq's ruler, Saddam Hussein, by force, setting the stage for a war in the Gulf this winter.
Amid signs of active preparations for a war within six months, senior officials on both sides of the Atlantic have said that war against Iraq is now inevitable.
'The expectation is that President Bush will make a final decision on the timing of a war over the course of August. That would be followed by British-led efforts to get a mandate for action at the UN, either under existing resolutions or a new UN resolution,' said one senior source.
The disclosure came as US Secretary of State Colin Powell dismissed an offer by Iraq to talk to the chief weapons inspector of the United Nations. 'Inspection is not the issue, disarmament is, making sure that the Iraqis have no weapons of mass destruction,' said Powell during a visit to Manila, capital of the Philippines.
'We have seen the Iraqis try to fiddle with the inspection system before,' said Powell. 'You can tell that they are trying to get out of the clear requirement that they have. The goal is not inspections for inspection's sake.'
The escalation of US military efforts comes amid signs of the first serious split between the White House and Britain over the relentless march to war.
That split emerged yesterday after John Bolton, US Under Secretary for Arms Control, admitted that the aim in Washington was to topple Saddam regardless of whether or not he allowed UN inspectors back in to complete the disarmament process.
'Let there be no mistake - while we also insist on the reintroduction of the weapons inspectors, our policy at the same time insists on regime change in Baghdad and that policy will not be altered, whether inspectors go in or not,' Bolton told Radio 4's Today programme. He said he 'certainly hoped' Saddam would be deposed within the year.
His words set alarm bells ringing in London, since the legality of any attack on Iraq - already questioned by the Government's own lawyers - depends on claiming to be acting against infringements of the post-Gulf War disarmament pact rather than simply overthrowing a dictator. Foreign Office sources were quick to dissociate the Foreign Secretary from Bolton's comments.
'Jack Straw has always said that the aim of our policy would not be regime change,' said a Foreign Office source.
In a further indication of preparations for war on both sides of the Atlantic, Tony Blair is expected to begin a campaign of softening up public opinion for war in the autumn. Bruce George, chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, said the Government 'will have to have started explaining' its case by then to reverse polls now showing strong opposition to war.
Bolton's comments came as new evidence emerged of US preparations for war, including the building up of strategic oil reserves in the US to insulate the economy against an expected hike in oil prices that would follow the opening of hostilities.
Discreet inquiries have also been made about the availability of the oil tankers that would be needed to transport aviation and other fuel to the Gulf for use by US forces.
In a further indication that America is readying itself for war, large numbers of US Army military trucks have undergone rapid servicing by the Oshkosh Truck Corporation and have been seen being delivered by rail back to their bases painted in tan desert camouflage.
Blair yesterday faced new demands from all sides to publish the now notorious dossier of information on Saddam's nuclear, biological and chemical armoury that he has been promising to unveil since spring.
'The British public deserves to be treated with respect. We must know what the evidence is, and the evidence has got to be compelling,' said Tony Lloyd, the ex-Foreign Office Minister.
The long delay in publication has prompted suspicions that the dossier, which relies heavily on satellite pictures, is embarrassingly thin.
'By delaying publication the Government has raised expectations. There would be a political price to pay if this much promised document did not amount to more than a collection of press cuttings,' said Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokesman.
The determination of Bush and his closest officials to go ahead with a war has also come amid growing evidence of splits within his own administration.
Senior officials, however, anticipate that Bush will bring an end to the debate by ordering the Pentagon to prepare for war. Most in the administration expect a fairly swift victory.
'I'm absolutely convinced the President will settle on a war plan that brings about regime change,' a senior Republican foreign policy specialist told the Washington Post last week.
I volunteered specifically because of Desert Storm in 1990. Gave up a good job and left behind a wife who was carrying my baby. MOS- 11 Series, specifically 11C- I refused the recruiter's non-combat job offers.
Why? Do you reckon nobody out there is willing to put their money where there mouth is? Others in my family before me volunteered for Viet Nam and others served in WWII and I imagine in other wars as well. I would expect my son to do the same and I hope when he gets old enough, I HOPE if his country needs him he will be the first in line at the recruiter's office- even if it kills him.
There are worse fates than death and there are worse ways to die than in the service of your country and I would rather see my son fall in defense of his country and freedom than sitting placidly on an airliner as Jihadis fly it into a building. Besides that- we have a totally volunteer military and they are not children. They have made their own choices in this matter and what their parents think is not really an issue. Would it make you feel different if the members of the military took a vote on the issue and they decided "YES! We might die, but we want to do this thing"? What would you say then? "Oh well they decided they want to- I guess it's ok"?
Police officers and firefighters put their asses on the line daily too- I NEVER hear anybody bitch about that. Peaceniks should be picketing City Halls across America demanding that their little boys and girls not be sent out into the dangerous crime ridden streets- it's the same thing. They're out there facing down a danger so you don't have to and instead of railing against the process, you might honor their sacrifice a bit, weep for the ones that fall and keep them as heroes always in the Valhalla of your memories and heart- that's all a warrior asks.
You're so funny. Grouchy, surly, angry, touchy, panties-always-in-a-wad, but funny.
I've read angry comments here; I've read idiotic comments here; I've even read vulgar comments here. But until your post #33 ...I never read a comment from an angry, vulgar, idiot.
What? Earlier today you were retiring, now you want to head off to Iraq? Which is it man? The golf cart or the Humvee? ;)
J
Maybe. Or maybe Saddam starts attacking our few forces in the region as soon as we say we're coming. In which case he could do them a lot of damage; he hasn't got much quality but he does have numbers and to cite a famous axiom, "Quantity has a quality all its own."
You don't know a thing about me except that I am very opinionated.
Unlike a sheep or your favorite, a weasel, I'd prefer to be compared to a wolverine.
As for golfing somewhere in Florida.......I was an assistant pro 30 years ago. I'll bet I could beat you using a five iron and a putter! :>)
Wishing someone's kids to be killed is reason enough to remove someone's account. Please don't do that again. Thanks, AM
But please stop with the personal attacks. They are not welcome here. Thanks, AM
I don't want to minimize your statement but remember that IRAQ had the "8th largest army in the world". That army was very gung ho right up to the time they met a modern army. This time that same army knows exactly what it will face from day one. Saddam’s biggest problem is not the United States; his problem will be with his own military. There are sources that have stated that there are already significant desertions in the ranks.
Speaking of which, a deployment to Iraq would certainly do wonders for my mid-life crisis!
J
Whatta classic maroon he is, a disrupting maroon.
And you're a "dreamer".
DL
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