President Bush will hold a news conference at 8 pm tonight...

[EarlyBird]

My thoughts were that the Axis of Weasels seem to take every opportunity/excuse to try and stop us going after Iraq and would use an Osama capture to raise objections once again.

Who knows really. The Old Euros have been known to pull 180s on a dime and turn everything upside down. In fact they do it at least once a week so nothing would surprise me.

But what if they were threatened by Saddam and OBL if they allowed the US to attack and that's why they've been acting so strange? And what if the delay in the Iraq attack was because of the meticulous and relentless roll-up of OBL and his minions by the CIA?

Bush announces OBL's capture, everyone breathes a BIG sigh of relief, and the UN resolution passes unanimously.

We can dream, can't we?

[cake_crumb]

"The whole Iraq situation is a case where I wish Bush had listened to Teddy Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick." He should have spoken to the world and the UN in the mildest, most conciliatory tones, all the while building up US forces around Iraq. Then, after striking Iraq with everything we have, Bush should go on TV wringing his hands, expressing disappointment, and talking about how we are still hoping to achieve a peaceful settlement"

SHOULD HAVE??? That's what he's been doing all along, but he can only be so conciliatory because he's after the UN, and hand wringing isn't his style, and a 'peaceful solution' is a lack of what the REAL handwringers constantly and graphically define as 'war'.

We (the allies) are USING force in Iraq....we're just not doing what the REAL hand wringers define as 'war'.

[nicmarlo]

On Drudge:

BUSH MAKES THE CALL

**Exclusive**

President Bush on Wednesday night was to make the ultimate call whether to strike and invade Iraq with military force, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

A top White House source offered few details, but did reveal the president would make a "defining decision" by morning.

The news comes just hours after Bush discussed top secret battle plans at the White House with his national security team and Army Gen. Tommy Franks, the man who would lead American forces in Iraq.

Military officials said the president had been told that an attack against Iraq could be carried out within the next several days, the NEW YORK TIMES is reporting on Thursday........[snip]

[A2J]

“Likewise, WWII was justified for the same reason. Had we invaded Germany first, everything would have been different. We must be careful to remember that hindsight is always 20/20.”

And because hindsight is “20/20” should we not heed the mistakes of history and invade Iraq before it becomes the next Germany? Hussein has already invaded a neighboring Arab country and in all likelihood he will do the same if left alone. Hitler rose to power in an environment of apathy and as a result, wreaked havoc upon millions. Hussein will do the same.

“I'm concerned about Hussein as every right thinking human being ought to be. But what I'm *afraid* of are psychotic Arabs, enraged at the Great Satan's pre-emptive invasion of sacred Arab territory who might feel it is their holy duty to board an airplane with a plane ticket and a carpet knife.

What I'm afraid of os the deluded Muslim who might jump on a subway car with a gallon of gas and light it on fire.

Am I right in being afraid of this? I don't know. I guess we could ask the Israelis and see what they think ...

I just don't see how invading Iran is going to reduce my fear of these things at all”

Fear is the greatest tool of a despot especially if he can wield it with expertise, as Hussein has done. By threatening the use of WOMD or suicide bombers, a despot can literally bring entire societies under his control without firing a shot. Hussein has done this.

It is my belief that the vast majority of people, including Arabs, are desirable of peace and would never consider strapping a bomb to themselves against an enemy. The news agencies, however, have succeeded in exaggerating the number of such zealots, in effect encouraging such attacks.

It is natural to have concerns over any number of things. What would life be without healthy doses of fear? The key is not to allow fear to master us but to focus us on the problems that cause the fear so that we can take measures to eliminate them. It appears that you have allowed fear to master you, which is not “right” or healthy but can lead to disastrous results for you and your family.

The focus, therefore, should be to eliminate the source of that fear, whether it is Hussein or a small group of zealots. As the world sees the effectiveness such an endeavor brings, it will realize that indeed the U.S. actions is/was just what is needed to combat terror.

[Lady Jag]

You are right The Old Euros have been known to pull 180s on a dime so I'm going to join you in dreaming if that's okay. I want Dubya to say tonight that we have OBL in custody and Saddamn has met his 72 Virginians.

[rwfromkansas]

Cloture vote is not necessarily caving if the motivation is good.....and it is; the GOP wants to get Dems on the record.

[Howlin]

Did the pubbies cave in!!

No, they did not CAVE.

It would help if you all would actually get the facts about what is going on.

[nicmarlo]

morning Howlin..... : )

[William McKinley]

Why on earth do people think a cloture vote means the Republicans caved?

I guess it is not common knowledge, but back when Rehnquist was nominated to the Supreme Court, the Democrats filibustered. He lost two different cloture votes. They never did successfully get a cloture motion passed.

[TLBSHOW]

According to Fox News:
President Bush will hold a press conference Thursday evening at 8:00 p.m. EST, the White House announced Thursday morning.

The press conference, the president's first in four months, will be held at the White House.

Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said that Bush will not announce any imminent or critical information about the crisis with Iraq, but will open the question-and-answer with a list of successes in the war on terrorism.

"This is a news conference. This is not a scheduled announcement of anything," Fleischer said.

[Semper Paratus]

U.S. is about to give Sadddam 72 hours to disarm

UK Telegraph is reporting he will do so next week.

[TLBSHOW]

Unfortunately, prior to today's cloture vote, Republican leaders ran up the white flag of surrender by moving off their position of forcing the Democrats to debate Estrada – and only Estrada – until the Dems were willing to give in and allow this man a vote.


However, the effort to force Democrats to debate Estrada was half-hearted at best. The Senate's new majority leader, Bill Frist, was unwilling to keep the Senate in session 24-7 and to order the sergeant-at-arms to round up absent senators. He even let them out the weekend before the Presidents' Day recess, after threatening to keep the Senate in session. He not only appeared weak, he lost valuable time.


Senate leaders then called on conservative groups to pound senators in swing states. In short, Frist and his lieutenants were asking conservative activists to do the heavy lifting they were unwilling to do themselves.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31374

[EarlyBird]

Yes let's keep dreaming, especially since George W. Bush has a way of making so many dreams come true!

[Howlin]

Good morning.

I see more misinformation is being posted by people who hope the adminstration will fail.

[RoseofTexas]

Just heard on MSNBC state that the vote failed! I hate the RATS! Also Tony Snow just mentioned that THIS is only a press conference. Bush will try to put facts on the table on the war, also Estrada will be mentioned etc.etc. Nothing to see here folks...move along!

[xsmommy]

the sky is falling.....

[putupon]

I hope it's "We said we were going to git him and we got him."

I don't think we could get him w/out the Paki's knowing it and if so, the rumours would already be coming out that we at least had another "big one". I hope I'm wrong.

[Joy Angela]

God Bless President Bush
America is at WAR

Remember the Wellstone Memorial, where the Democrats were
so vile that even Jesse Ventura was disgusted?

We voted GOP, We supported our President.

But, the Democrat SNAKE wasn't about to crawl back under it's rock.

These "Peace" Protests are Declarations of War by the same
forces that frenzied at Wellston's Funeral!

Thsee Anti-American Moles, who have planted themselves in
our schools, our government legislatures, city
counsels and in our movies, have decided that
NOW is the time to Revolt...against the USA.

Why now?

Have we forgotten that Hitler was also
able to rouse the masses into a frenzy in his quest for Power?

In that same spirit of power lust, the forces that
propped up Bill and Hillary Clinton
are gathering our children, seducing them
to protest, to take days off of school
all in the MISSION of restoring
the Clinton's to Power.

Nothing will stop the Quest
To crown the Queen.

[Rik0Shay]

The reason we would do this is to make OBL move. He would be much easier to catch if he is flushed out.

[Howlin]

We have the Democrats on the record now as opposing a Hispanic nominee; all of the "candidates" voted against him.

This works wonderfully for us.

We'll get them next time.