[NittanyLion]

I read this as a very straightforward, defiant speech by a man who's resigned to the fact war will happen. Folks, don't get caught up in the stylistic parts of this press conference; this was a very substantive speech if you listen to its undertones.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Yes, it was substantive, but I got a bit of different take on the substance: We are a minimum of two weeks from any hostilities in Iraq, and probably we are further than that from it -- which does bring the interesting aspect of the April weather (sandstorms and somewhat increased heat, mostly the sandstorms). Those will be in play.

The other bit of substance is that he definitely "put the brakes" on this talk of "inevitable war". He was extremely careful to always couch his war terms as "if necessary". He could be signaling someone somewhere or he could simply be playing the reluctant warrior. But clearly, in his mind, the possibility of not going to war is still there (either that or he's lying to the people through the press, which I don't think he does).

Yes, much substance. But not substance toward action, substance toward the current diplomatic process continuing on for at least some more weeks.

All in all, I think he was thrown off-stride by what occurred in Turkey and maybe by the virulence of Franco-German-Russian (and pip-squeak) resistance. I think he thought he'd have U.N. backing by now. Thus, I think, he's regrouping to have another go at the diplomatic process.