Bush to address the nation at 8 pm EST

Being a United States citizen, I can say that Saddam has had enough chancesfor too many years. We need to show him that we mean business, and are not going to put up with him stringing us along anymore.

Chris: “It’s like the United States never got more than four votes: U.S., U.K., Spain and Bulgaria.”

Correct me if I am wrong, but you are essentially taking France’s word on this one. Right? Why?

I’d suggest the USA and UK are not calling the vote to prevent France from rendering the UN completely irrevelent.

Sorry, that was a bit of a typo. It should have said, “It’s LIKELY…” Yeah, I mostly take France’s word for it, as I think the U.S. would have called a vote if it had them or even if it was close.

I’d expect part of the speech to be like this:

“Today our allies and the UN have failed to disarm Saddam Hussein in a peaceful way. The threat of Saddam’s use of his weapons of mass distruction is upon us and we cannot afford to watch passively another 9/11. Today diplomacy died but the battle freedom and democracy has begun.”

I’m already sick.

In addition to France’s non, I believe we could also believe Germany’s nein, Russia’s nyet, and China’s abstention or vote against it. Syria definitely opposed the resolution. Pakistan had announced that they would abstain. Chile’s attempt at a compromise had been summarily rejected by the US, so they would have either abstained or voted against. Mexico wasn’t saying, but that in itself is a rebuff to its northern neighbor and Vicente Fox’s (former) good friend Dubya; they looked to me like another abstention. The three African members had played it close to the vest, but none had ever expressed support for the resolution and two have linguistic and economic ties to France.

So, mike, the better question is whether there’s any evidence whatsoever to suggest that Dubya and Tony ever had more than the four votes they started with. Assuming, of course, that the US ever actually cared whether the UN would support them.

The resolution was needed anyway, 1441 gave the authority to use “serious consequences” if Iraq failed to immediately and fully comply, which Iraq didn’t. Saddam will have about 72 hours to leave along with his thugs, or face war.

The resolution was NOT needed! :)

I was hoping for an international consensus and felt the United State should go for that. However, the UN Security Council made a laughingstock of themselves with the deliberations of the past couple of weeks.

I just do not understand it, particularly France, Russia, Germany, and especially Turkey. The consultations were behind closed doors. These countries could have exacted commitments from the USA for stakes in post-war Iraq, quid pro quos, and lots of other things in return for their support or even simple abstention. But, no, they dug in their heels. sigh

We should go, as we will, and after it’s over, I think we should go back to the UN and strongly suggest there are some things about it and its Security Council that need changing.

At this point, I say the debate is over, it’s time to put the trust in leaders we all elected — we did whether we voted for Bush or not, since we support the Constitution (I didn’t vote for Bush) — and leave dissent for the next election.

Just some thoughts.

Amen Jan! Let’s hope for the best and pray for our troops. God Bless them all.

Here in Holland the majority stands behind George W. I believe the war is the best option. Saddam is a terrible killer. Remember all those kurds in the north. I hope George W. strikes very hard, accurate and precise, so that the pain will be over in just a few days.

in resolution 1441 there are mentioned “serious consequences”. “serious consequences” has also been the expression colin powell used for what the unwilling countries will have to face after this war. am i supposed to be frightened by that?

or did “serious consequences” mean anything from bombing the country back to stone-age to sending britney spears to baghdad for a couple of concerts? resolution 1441 wouldn’t have been voted for by all the members of security council if they had been aware that they’re going to war, i guess.

and to whom it may concern: you sometimes refer to the unwilling countries as “unthankful” (is that the correct expression?) - but did you ever think about the fact, that abusing the world-wide solidarity after 9/11 for your very own targets is more of an “unthankful” act than opposing this war has ever been?

think about it. i’ve always been a friend and a true admirer of the US and i still am, but that doesn’t necessarily mean to blindly support you and silently watch you making terrible mistakes.

best regards,

vasili

Why does France not want a war of liberation wit Iraq? Let’s not forget that France supplied Iraq with a nuclear reactor back in the 1970s. And let’s not forget that France has substantial business contracts with Saddam.

And, finally, let’s not forget that France, Germany and Russia are tremendously bothered by the US being the world’s only SuperPower. Together, the three of them hope to form a second SuperPower to “counter-balance” the United States.

I would remind our friends in France, Germany and Russia that, more often than not, the USA has been on the RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY - and France and ESPECIALLY Germany and Russia HAVE NOT.

I am proud of President Bush and Prime Minister Blair and am confident they will be vindicated by history.

Greetings from Spain.

I do not understand the point of this war.

Im journalist. I believe that North Korea is more dangerous than Irak. Have North Korea oil?.

There are lots of non-democratic governments in the world. How many of them have oil?.

What’s the point of asking to the ONU for a resolution if USA was gonna do war anyway?. What’s the point of that kind of hipocresy?.

With all my respect for the thoughts expresed in this site, good luck to all of us.

Oh, just a little thing more: I’m in love. Tonight he has kissed my hand for the first time. Tonight was full moon. It was a rare feeling to come back home with his kisses in my hand and watch in tv that the full moon was gonna be used to attack Irak. Maybe it’s a naive little thing… Maybe not.

That’s hyper power, not super power, Dave. And while you’re so busy reminding the French about Saddam, remind yourself that the US supported Saddam until he became inconvenient. By the way, there isn’t a Frenchman alive who wishes he were an American, not now or ever.

I am Spanish

The main problem is that USA feeds a revolutionary because it interests him and then that it has formed it he spits him in the face. The example is Bin-Laden that was supported by CIA to fight against Russia in Afghanistan. It also fed and he gave technology of weapons to Iraq so that it fought against Iran; ¡¡¡The main culprit is the same USA¡¡¡¡

dear dave,

as beë pointed out, none of the states of the western hemisphere is in a position “to throw stones through the glasshouse” as we in germany would call it.

german, french, british and u.s. firms have been selling goods to iraq (even under u.n. sanctions, if you remember) that have often been used to do harm to people in iraq itself or elsewhere.

u.s. intelligence provided iraq with informations to survive the war against iran, that has very much been of large interest to the u.s., they helped hussein not only to keep but to increase his power.

we all have blood on our hands - and actually i’m not willing to wash it away with even more blood.

on the other hand you’re right: the fact that the u.s. is the only superpower left is frightening to us. imagine the former soviet union would have been the only superpower after wwII - what do you think would have happened? now you’re gonna look puzzled and ask yourself if that guy’s really comparing the ussr and the u.s., right?

no. not today. but i’ve read the wave (it’s an american book by morton rhue, but i’m afraid it’s not very popular today) - so i can imagine what can arise from good intentions.

you don’t do yourselves a favour with that war. it will end soon, and your victory will be glorious at first sight. but i’m afraid thousands and thousands of men and women blinded by hate will turn that victory into an bitter defeat.

take care,

vasili