[Stefan Stackhouse]

As compelling as Powell's speech was, there is still a long way to go to convince opponents to this war. What you are going to hear over the next day or so are videos and pictures from the Iraq government showing all of the locations mentioned in Powells report. The locations will be emptied, or substituded with things that are not weapon related. They will open up empty trucks and rail cars "see? no weapons!!!just baby milk!!!" The world press, hoping for an out, will eat this stuff up!!! Pictures of the terrorists will be refuted by the actual person shown on the pictures as a baker, carpenter, etc...with documentation shown that is falsified...It's not over yet folks! Bush and his admin. can't go queasy...assuming the world continues to support Iraq, if the admin believes that we are in danger, they will have to act alone!

I am certain that even if Powell had driven a fork lift into the UNSC chambers, carrying a canister of VX gas, snatched straight from Iraq by our SpecOps forces, there would STILL be people saying that it was all a fabrication, more inspections are needed, etc. We are faced with some people who believe what they want to believe. Their minds are made up and they don't want to be confused with the facts.

We will NEVER convince EVERYBODY. At a certain point, we need to just convince those who are willing to be convinced, and then move forward. And that point is a matter of weeks (or maybe days, now), not months.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

The french poodle is speaking...Alot more PC than Russia I must say.

[The Wizard]

Bill Crystal saying this is the beginnign of the French retreat

[fightinJAG]

In some ways, I don't think this speech was even about convincing people, meaning those who presently remain unconvinced even in the mass of previously available information.

Seems to me this was:

1) Check that block - you want the UN thing, we did the UN thing. Now shut up.

2. To those of you who have been with us for some time: take courage, your support is for a cause that is just, a war that is necessary, a future that must be brought back from the brink.

3) The 20/20 hindsight of history will document the extraordinary lengths to which America went to be sure it exercised its awesome military might wisely.