War Plans on President's Desk

Associated Press ^ | 9-21-02 | Robert Burns

[bonesmccoy]

President Bush has received a detailed Pentagon plan containing military options for deposing Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein a senior defense official said Saturday

The highly classified plan, delivered to the White House in early September by Gen. Tommy Franks, the Central Command chief who would execute any military action in Iraq, will undergo additional refinements in the weeks ahead, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On a visit to U.S. troops in Kuwait, Franks said Saturday his forces are ready if called upon.

"We are prepared to undertake whatever activities and whatever actions we may be directed to take by our nation," he said at a news conference. But he also noted: "Our president has not made a decision to go to war."

Thousands of American and Kuwaiti forces are preparing to begin a large-scale training exercise, called Eager Mace, using amphibious, ground, air and naval forces. The exercise, which is held periodically in the Kuwaiti desert — most recently in May 2001 — has not been publicly announced.

Franks' delivery of his war plan to Bush was first reported in Saturday's New York Times. The newspaper cited officials familiar with war planning as saying the Franks' plan contains the number of ground troops, combat aircraft and aircraft carrier battle groups that would be needed to knock out Iraq's air defenses and military communications and then seize Baghdad.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee ( news - web sites) this week, Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a key concern of war planners is the possibility that Iraq would launch an attack on U.S. and allied forces in the region using weapons of mass destruction. He suggested that Iraq's means of delivering such weapons — by ballistic missile, aircraft or other means — would be among the priority targets at the outset of a U.S. attack.

As Bush considers his options for using military force against Iraq, his administration is simultaneously consulting with Russia and other countries on a new U.N. resolution that would threaten Iraq with war if it does not meet its decade-old obligation to disarm.

Russia is leaving the door slightly open to compromise on the U.N. resolution. Russia's decision could turn on whether it gets new and convincing evidence that Saddam is building up stockpiles of dangerous weapons.

Talks will continue at the United Nations ( news - web sites), where the United States and Britain are trying to overcome resistance from Russia, China and France to leveling new demands without proof.

A defiant Iraq announced Saturday that Baghdad would reject any new U.N. resolutions Saddam's government believes are unfavorable.

"The American officials are trying ... to issue new, bad resolutions from the Security Council," Iraq's state-run radio said.

There was no immediate comment from the White House.

Bush's request for a congressional resolution to authorize the use of force against Iraq continues to draw a mixed reception.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., criticized Bush's approach and said "we must not be hell-bent on an invasion until we have exhausted other possible options to assess and eliminate Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction program.".

"We must not act alone," he said. "We must have the support of the world."

But Sen. Joseph Lieberman ( news, bio, voting record), D-Conn., said there was now broad support among Democrats for Bush's resolution. "We feel that the president should be authorized to take military action (without) the U.N. if the U.N. will not do it," he said.

[BulletBrasDotNet]

Please Mr. President, no more secure locations... Can I go to a football game instead?

Funniest damn thing I've seen/read on FR in months. Thanks!

[Libertina]

LOVE the photo essay! BUMP

[bonesmccoy]

Cheney's thinking... Now, this is MY KIND of SECURE LOCATION!

Meanwhile at the White House... Barney and Spot are back with their owners.

Hi, I'm back from my secure location!

Sun Sep 22, 1:49 PM ET U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush receive a salute from a marine on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, September 22, 2002. Bush was returning to the White House after spending the weekend at Camp David, Maryland. The White House said on Sunday that Israel's siege of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's West Bank compound was "not helpful" to ending Palestinian suicide bombings. REUTERS/William Philpott

You know things are going well when the President can spend some time on T-ball.

Sun Sep 22, 5:46 PM ET U.S. President George W. Bush (L) helps Kevin Fulcher Jr. (in chair) with Kevin Fulcher Sr. (C) tee up the first ball on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, September 22, 2002. This was the last tee ball game at the White House for the season. REUTERS/William Philpott

President Bush watches the East Brunswick Babe Ruth Buddy Ball League Sluggers play the Waynesboro Little League Challenger Division Sand Gnats on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002 in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Oh, don't look at this one liberals! The President is actually teaching young American boys to stand up and say "UNDER GOD"!!!!! (WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO!!!! AUGGGUUUGUUUGHHHH!!!) (/SARCASM OFF)

Hey y'all.. this guy's a "DAD" isn't he???

President Bush gives Dan D'Allesandro a souvenir baseball after his team, the East Brunswick Babe Ruth Buddy Ball League Sluggers from East Brunswick, N.J., played the Waynesboro Little League Challenger Division Sand Gnats on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Just in case some people are forgetting what this struggle is about...

President Bush gets a hug from Kayla Turner of the Waynesboro, Va., Little League Challenger Division Sand Gnats after her team played the East Brunswick Babe Ruth Buddy Ball League Sluggers on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002 in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

[bonesmccoy]

Thanks Libertina.. just added a few more photos of President Bushes T-ball game today.

Slogan for 2004... We luv the Dub!

[Tom Bombadil]

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., criticized Bush's approach and said "we must not be hell-bent on an invasion

Yeah, we will be far safer if we wait.

[Miss Marple]

Bumping your excellent photo essay for the Monday morning crowd!

[bonesmccoy]

Awww shucks! Thanks!

I love the photos of the T-ball game...NOW THAT'S AMERICAN!

[Miss Marple]

Yes, they are AMERICAN! Take that, Schroeder! (I am steamed at Germany this evening.)

I am waiting for Prime Minister Blair's dossier tomorrow morning, confident that there will be a great many leftists with egg on their faces.

[El Gato]

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., criticized Bush's approach and said "we must not be hell-bent on an invasion until we have exhausted other possible options to assess and eliminate Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction program.".

Or at least until I can use an attack to bring some more pork to W. Va.

[El Gato]

President Bush has received a detailed Pentagon plan containing military options for deposing Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein a senior defense official said Saturday

Hmm, Frank has also reported that the troops are ready. Next new moon is in just about two weeks.

Let's Roll!

[El Gato]

Oh, don't look at this one liberals! The President is actually teaching young American boys to stand up and say "UNDER GOD"!!!!!,

Yeh, and that's one of those homophobic Boy Scouts holding that flag too! Oh the Horror!

[tomkat]

what daschole really needs to 'get with' is a terminal coronary thrombosis ...

[bonesmccoy]

now now... there are other ways than acute MI's...

1. Donate

2. Just vote baby!

http://www.johnthune.com/index.asp

[tomkat]

what happened to all those females' pants ?
gotta ease up on that hot water cycle ...

[bonesmccoy]

It's neat to see America reflected in these guy's websites. Look at this shot from the Norm Coleman for Senate campaign in Minnesota.

Norm Coleman with Senator Bob Lessard talk outdoors issues in front of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox (Bemidji 7-31-02)

[Amerigomag]

Posted on 09/26/2002 4:41 PM Pacific by Pokey78

Diplomacy backed by a willingness to use force: that is the persuasive pressure being applied on Iraq by the United States and Britain. Yesterday, American jets hit a radar at Basra airport at the head of the Gulf, part of a continuing escalation of attacks in the two no-fly zones.

The tightening of the screw began just over three weeks ago, when 106 American and British planes targeted an air defence installation in the west of the country. Along with the transfer of the US Central Command from Florida to the Gulf and the moving of military equipment from Qatar to Kuwait, the air strikes indicate that Washington and its closest ally are preparing for war while seeking United Nations endorsement of such action.

Posted this p.m. and sourced from western print media. The Telegraph (UK). More will filter in with time. Hope this helps.