UK unveils 'timetable' to war

BBC ^ | 24 February, 2003

[Mossad1967]

The UK Government has spelled out the timetable likely to lead to war against Saddam Hussein. In the clearest terms so far expressed, the prime minister's official spokesman said there would be a "window" for Iraq to fall in line between now and a vote on a new United Nations resolution.

And in a government motion to be put before MPs Iraq is also urged to recognise it is facing its "final opportunity" to disarm itself of its weapons of mass destruction...

[Mossad1967]

NEXT STEPS IN IRAQ CRISIS 24 Feb onwards: US-UK new resolution due 28 Feb or soon after: Blix written report to Security Council 1 Mar: Missile destruction must start Around 7 Mar: Inspectors oral report to Security Council 10 Mar: US-UK will force UN vote on resolution

[zarf]

This is utterly pathetic, but necessary for Tony Blair. We'll have to put up with this nonsense.

[hchutch]

FYI ping.

No U.N. resolution means we go in ourselves.

[ConservativeConvert]

This has descended into the lowest depths of absurdity and nonsense. The statements being made on all sides of this fiasco (including our own) have become pure drivel. This venture has lost all momentum and seriousness.

[davisdoug]

If indeed the US is facing a "clear & present danger" we need none of this. Does anyone else find it strange that we are told of all the bad things being planned, but we must work with the world commurinal. If we are indeed in danger what is holding this administration back?

[ohioWfan]

....."middle of next month"...... I've heard some military experts say that that's the best timing according to military preparedness. Perhaps this was the plan all along?

[Mossad1967]

Tony Blairs' political future???

[Jennifer in Florida]

If we are indeed in danger what is holding this administration back?

Yeah, really. This looks really bad in my opinion. What the heck is really going on? How much longer do we have before this war starts - or will there even be a war at this point?

[over3Owithabrain]

Utter BS - 1441 was THE final opportunity to disarm. Now another resolution makes the same statement?
I am fast losing the trust I put in President Bush, this is a joke, something worthy of Clinton/Gore, not a purportedly "Reaganesque" Republican.

[over3Owithabrain]

Sorry, but if Saddam is the threat that the administration is saying he is, Blair political hide shouldn't be our foremost concern.

[Mossad1967]

I agree, just trying to figure out what the heck is going on?

[GraniteStateConservative]

I thought you've been of the Bush bandwagon for awhile over several things.

[Dog]

Give me a break...

The war will happen when the forces we need to take down Iraq are in place and not a day sooner.

So all this .....I will never vote for Bush again crap and handwringing isn't going to make it happen any sooner.

Do you want us to launch an attack without all our forces intact??

[The Great Satan]

Yeah, really. This looks really bad in my opinion. What the heck is really going on? How much longer do we have before this war starts - or will there even be a war at this point?

This is a hostage situation. We are the hostages. The sherrif has deployed all his squad cars around the hostage takers' hideout, but all the squad cars in the world can't bring an end to the crisis. Expect this to take a while to resolve -- probably another 1-3 years. That's just the reality of the situation. We screwed up big time when we let Saddam get those weapons, and now we have to deal with it, whatever it takes.

[BluH2o]

If we are indeed in danger what is holding this administration back?

Could be a ruse ... allow the Iraqi's to think they have at least 2 weeks and nail them hard with a huge multi-pronged attack and drive for the kill.

[over3Owithabrain]

Domestically, he's disappointed me quite a bit - busting the budget, throwing out new programs like a Democrat, not following through on vouchers, etc.
But I had a lot of hope that he was sincere about defending our sovereignty, and not caving to the UN and leftist protestors.
But really, he said the game was over weeks ago - does the game seem over to you?

[johnb838]

Tony Blair has been a great ally. He has shown more fortitude than I would have expected in a million years. Why don't we just let him off the hook -- let him sit this one out like we did with the Israeli's last time so he can mend fences back home. We don't really need him... We know the Brits are with us to the last. I believe that. Blood is thicker than water.

The answer is that he would politely tell us to stuff it. Right is right, wrong is wrong, and our British brothers and sisters will be at our side.

[Argus]

This is the slowest showdown in history. If this were GUNSMOKE, Marshall Dillon would've died of old age waiting for the bad guy to draw.

[Dog]

Another thing......Blair is critical to this operation...... if members of his party remove him......who will stand with us then......answer me that??