Azores Press Conference LIVE THREAD

Various

[Amelia]

For discussion.

[txrangerette]

I Just saw CNN's replay of the press
conference - supposedly complete.

HA!

They didn't show the part you are ALL
RAVING ABOUT!

They cut it?!?!?!?!

Anybody else see this?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

It was the very last question, Blair started the response and Bush entered in at the very end. He called out France, and you could just see the contained rage bubbling. He even stumbled a bit in his response because he was "correcting" from what appeared to be starting out as an FR-type rant on France. He held the professionalism together, but you could tell he'd have gone off the deep end if he were just with Cheney or Rumsfeld.

[Dog]

CNN cut out the part of W going after France.....your kidding right??

[GLDNGUN]

I did NOT get the impression that this was some permanent group.

There will certainly be other international issues that need to be addressed in the very near future that could require military intervention. If the UN fails to step up again, look for this same coalition to take action.

[swheats]

Ya think they planned the unity of the tie thang, or they're just that much in sync?

[the Deejay]

Maybe President Bush is waiting for Blix to make another trip to Iraq and then we're going to attack Iraq. (Just a passing thought.)

[MeekOneGOP]

The problem was that Blair had underestimated the French resolve to undermine the “coalition of the willing”. It finally became apparent to him that Chirac would oppose ANY reasonable resolution. This has angered Blair to no end, and he believes that Chirac is trying to end his political career in order to become the “the voice” of the EU and elevate France’s stature. Chirac believes he has Blair trapped, thinking Tony can’t or won’t go to war without another UN resolution. On the other hand, Chirac simply will not agree to any reasonable resolution, while trying to appear that they are open to new proposals. They are not, so he believes he has Blair in a box.

Three months from now . . .

Chirac calls President Bush . . .

[txrangerette]

Not kidding...at least I saw nothing
like the way all of you described it.

?????

CSPAN replay: 5:15 CT

[MeekOneGOP]

WH Advisors Drafting Bush 'Declaration of War' [3PM Monday Speech]

[txrangerette]

CNN did not include this, I swear...

[Dog]

May I ask when are we going to take out Iran.....:-)

I hope you didn't mind that I posted what you said the other day on this thread..

[Dog]

We believe you ....

Carl ...CNN cut out the section at the end when the President went after France...in their replay a little while ago..

[goodnesswins]

Can you imagine all the 80 or so year old women squatting on his grave? LOL. I'll be one of them..

[The Great Satan]

We'll see. You certainly have stood by your theory. I hope that you will continue to post next week.

Don't worry, I'll be here. This is not the first time I've been through this loop.

[cebadams]

Here's the short version:

Summary of Bush/Blair Azore Press Conference 3.16.2003

Atlantic Alliance. Eastern, Southern and Northern Europe are free to join.

GW seemed to say tomorrow (March 17)

British PM for 4 1/2 mo's now .....we were prepared to set out clear tests some days ago and the reason we approached him that way is because of 1441....serious consequences, and this is really the impasse that we have...some say this should be no authorization , instead MORE discussion, but the truth is that without the credible ultimatum, that more discussion is just MORE DELAY....with Saddam remaining armed with weapons of Mass Destruction and as a murderous regime....a game he has played over the last 12 years....where int'l comm driven into perpetual negotiation, but never real and concrete disarmament...not a single person on Sec Council that doubts he is not cooperating.....

Blair..
"NO ONE disagrees that Iraq is not complying " "We have reached the point of decision.." "We will do all we can.. IN THE SHORT TIME THAT REMAINS "

Azner: Transatlantic solidarity must be confirmed and the committment to keeping international law respected by all parties.

Blair: More discussion is a delay. Saddam continuing to play games. There's no one on the security council that believes that he is complying. No interview has taken place even though provided for in 1441. 10,000 liters of anthrax still unaccounted for. If we would have given a strong message at the beginning, Saddam would have realized he needed to comply sooner.

Blair says:
We will protect Iraqi territory and culture. Iraq's natural resources will remain the property of Iraq and her people.

The purpose of the meeting was to put a face on the coalition that will act in the face of the UN's failure. Tomorrow is the last day, according to Bush.
Tomorrow is the day for UN to vote or not vote.

Bush: "Saddam has not chosen wisely"

Bush: "Cards have been played" "France showed its cards"
res Bush: Cards have been played....UN is very important, which is why I went there on 9/12/02....let's make sure your words mean something....cooperate cutting the money of terrorists...remember Rwanda, or Kosovo...UN didn't do its job...if tomorrow they don't do their job we all have to figure out how to make it work...UN will def. need to have a role, begin to get its legs of responsibility back...

Bush: "Show your cards an old Texas/poker expression ......France's threatening veto has shown its cards. The UN must mean something." "...and France has indicated they will veto anything that holds Saddam to account...."

[txrangerette]

Going to watch now on CSPAN...

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep ! "Anyone stepping onto Iraqi soil will not leave alive!" . . .

I skeered ! lol ! . . .

[The Great Satan]

I did NOT get the impression that this was some permanent group.

That's because it isn't -- yet. The UN hasn't completely discredited itself -- yet (that happens tomorrow). And the UN's replacement will be the national subject of conversation for the next six months, not any ongoing battle for Baghdad, which is not remotely in prospect.

[Iowa Granny]

Can you imagine all the 80 or so year old women squatting on his grave? LOL. I'll be one of them..

I'll be right there with ya, honey!

[alnick]

What did he say?

A reporter started a question with the suggestion that the world is against us. Bush tore into him, explaining that we had a unanimous vote in 1441, which said that if SH did not comply he would face serious consequences. He was obviously frustrated that the media glosses over 1441 as if it were nothing.

It's scheduled to come on C-Span at 6:16 EST today. On the C-Span website earlier it said that it would run at 5 p.m., but apparently they pushed it back. Sound familiar??