The Lowdown on the Showdown

[GLDNGUN]

While most are aware by now that President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will confer Sunday in the Azores, it seems just as many do not realize the weight of this meeting. This truly is a “war council”...

[ClancyJ]

Ping - verrrrryyyy interesting thread.

[Neets]

I am sooo happy Kayak put out the new Ping List for us last night.

I know you mentioned this on the thread earlier Kay, but I want to ping EVERYONE as this is an IMPORTANT, ARTICULATE, WELL REASONED, and QUITE THOROUGH ANALYSIS of the events in Azores.

Thank YOU, THANK YOU, (and your little "birdie") GldnGun for a much needed voice of reason and comprehensive analysis.

JUSTSHE, thanks for the ping also.

[LaGrone]

Excellent. Oh for it to be so.

[mrustow]

Thanks for the fascinating analysis. My only, slight difference with you regards the use of the term "organization." I suggest that this is return to the sorts of international alliances -- strong on action, low on red tape -- that were the rule, prior to the League of Nations. (See: 19th century.)

[M Kehoe]

If your intel is good, and your analysis is accurate, then I'd say Saddam doesn't have much time left on earth.

5.56mm

[swheats]

I marked it. I'll check back to see how this played out.

[Theresa]

"....kickbacks of up to $100 million were nothing unusual for setting up a big deal. "

So there ya go. When France first started acting up I thought that Chirac might be personally making money under the table. But then all the former diplomats and well connected commentators on FOX won't go as far as to suggest it, although they do insinuate that perhaps some French and Russian companies are selling them stuff that is banned while their governments look the other way.

I am not going to hold my breath that any credible people who are in a position to really carry out pay back are going to have the gumption to dig for information that personal kick backs are involved and reveal it if it turns out to be true. That would take more gumption than 99 percent in government have.

[Amelia]

The meeting in the Azores seems to have gotten a bit of attention from the rest of the world:

Paris, Moscow and Berlin Issue Declaration Against Iraq War, Call for Ministers' Gathering

IRAQ invites Blix and Elbaradei to Baghdad "earliest suitable date"!!!

[CyberAnt]

Not only that - but FOX just said that Bush had a conversation with Italy today.

Typical of the media to say we are leaving people out - all they know how to do is divide!

[CyberAnt]

Chirac made his blunder when he bragged and boasted he would VETO ANYTHING - this made the Big 3 meeting possible and probable. Big blunder - and I believe it was x42's idea. Just more of the x42 TREASON against the United States.

[RISubVet]

btt

[Maeve]

Won't France, Germany and Russia be shocked if on Sunday they find out almost all of Europe's PMs are also there in the Açores.

[Iowa Granny]

interesting post. pinging for tracking purposes.

[GLDNGUN]

The meeting in the Azores seems to have gotten a bit of attention from the rest of the world

Absolutely. Most everyone knows by now what is going down. France has probably alerted Iraq, and thus Iraq has just declared they are on "full war footing". The next 1-3 days should get quite wild.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmm? I heard that on FOX. But ... unlike the "coalition of the willing", these people have resorted to going back to the UN on Tuesday - I wonder if that will ever take place after Bush speaks to America on Monday night, their "meeting" will be a moot point.

[GLDNGUN]

I'd say Saddam doesn't have much time left on earth.

Unless he decides to take the asylum path at the last moment, I don't think he'll be around a week from now.

[CyberAnt]

You are thinking the other leaders have been invited, but have kept mum about it.

I was thinking maybe it was going to be a teleconference - because I believe the Azores is a substitute landing place for the Shuttle Orbitor, and there might be the tech available to bring that off without the leaders having to travel.

[deport]

The meeting in the Azores seems to have gotten a bit of attention from the rest of the world:

---

Interested in stopping the event that the three are putting the final planning touches to..... This wasn't a lets chat about Iraq meeting but a here's how we are gonna do it meeting, imo.

[kayak]

ping

[MJY1288]

Considering the fact that George W. Bush has never been a fan of the U.N. The actions by Chirac and the Security Counsel might just be welcomed and maybe even encouraged in around about way.

The fact is, for the most part, the U.N. has been a miserable failure when it comes to anything to do with global security, Both UNMOVIC and the IAEA couldn't disarm a flea. The U.N. has lost all credibility and will dry up and blow away