Winds of Change.NET: Winds of War: 2003-03-18

March 18, 2003

Winds of War: 2003-03-18

by Joe Katzman at March 18, 2003 1:47 PM

Our goal is to give you one power-packed briefing of insights, news and trends from the War on Terror that leaves you stimulated, informed, and occasionally amused. If you think your blog has a worthy post in this area, feel free to email us and we'll come take a look.

If you find something here you want to blog about yourself (and we hope you do), all we ask is that you do as we do and offer a Hat Tip hyperlink to today's "Winds of War". Welcome!

FLASH: Iraq has now admitted having mobile bioweapon labs. Too little, too late... just one more body blow to the foolish idea that inspections could address the threat posed by Saddam.

U.S. Intelligence agencies think the Islamofascist Palestinian group Hamas may try to attack American civilians and facilities while the war is on. Cold Fury has the details, and a question.

Transcript of President Bush's speech, and streaming video.

Note the key loophole: "Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing." In other words, as soon as they say "no" we can attack. I'd bet almost anything Saddam can't resist a public "no" by tomorrow morning at the latest. UPDATE: What took him so long? Didn't even make it to 8:30am ET. Let's roll - now. Here's why.

Back to Rummy diplomacy. Some of the turns of phrase in this article made me laugh out loud. UPDATE: No wonder... it's Mark Steyn! (Hat tip: Mader Blog)

They also highlight the potential for caricature when we discuss public figures, especially our enemies. Easily Distracted has an excellent piece that looks at the way events like these are really handled... our biggest mistake is usually to believe that all unfolds to a controlled master plan.

Salam Pax, live from Baghdad, has some less humourous thoughts about all this. Deservedly unhappy, but a realist. Read his last line in particular, and take it to heart. (Hat Tip: Bite the Wax Tadpole)

Another Iraqi speaks up, via Armchair Analyst's "Peace & Justice" post. This audio clip of an Iraqi refugee demolishing a foolish anti-liberation protester is beyond priceless. You're depriving yourself if you don't listen to it!

Some thoughts on what comes next militarily.

Supporting evidence comes from this report out of Jordan. Special Forces hard at work... we've noted the presence of that infrastructure before.

Godspeed, folks, and be careful not to step on any 1991 leftovers. That unexploded ordnance could prove to be the biggest hazard of the opening phase. Let's hope so.

Reports that Saddam has armed troops south of Baghdad with chemical weapons (Hat Tip: watch/)... and here's a listing and explanation of the chemicals Saddam has available to use. (Hat Tip: Defensetech)

Good thing the Ukranians are about to send a chemical unit. The Warsaw Pact countries were better in this area than we are, because chemical attack was part of Soviet offensive doctrine. The fact that the Czechs, Romainans and now Ukranians are sending decontamination and treatment units could prove to be a huge help.

Meanwhile, Dixie Flatline points at a Washington Post article about the supposed "iron ring" around Baghdad. Hope he's right.

Donald Sensing has found some hard numbers on exactly who armed Iraq.

Dailypundit declares that he has more confidence in the accuracy of Cold Fury's Iraq predictions than in his own. Visit the post and see both.

Tom Daschle drinks the Kool-Aid.

Steven Den Beste's post-game analysis seems to agree with Vodkapundit's earlier post. Meanwhile, Bite the Wax Tadpole suggests what Bush's next trick could be.

The European media are about to drive a lot of bloggers batty. This article explains why - we don't even agree on what's newsworthy. (Hat Tip: watch/)

Trent's article on NGOs and post-war reconstruction would be worth it even if all you did was read the last line and its 3 links. Of course, there's more... looks like the U.N.'s payback begins now.

Clubbeaux the Seal, who has probably done the best job in the blogosphere of flensing Ms. Maines and the Dixie Chicks, takes his clubwork to the next level as he pounds a rythmic tattoo on celebrities who feel compelled to pronounce upon political issues. It's really, really good.

Today's last word goes to commenter Matt on Rantburg: "Let me see if I've got this straight: One, the French say we're arrogant. Two, the Germans say we're warmongers. Three, the Russians say we don't respect the rule of law. And now four, the Arabs think we're undemocratic. And if that doesn't convince you of the correctness of our position, nothing will."

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"Winds of War: 2003-03-18"

Tracked: March 18, 2003 4:12 PM

Nice collection of links from Shots Across The Bow

Excerpt: Winds of Change has a post filled with tasty little chinks of war news, including the reference to Iraq's mobile

Tracked: March 19, 2003 12:14 AM

Why Are We Still Waiting? from The Noble Pundit

Excerpt: So Tony Blair has won support from Commons to take the British into war with us. It's been a long hard fought battle to get the proper approvals for the British to be on board with us, but it's over.

Comments

#1 from Pete Stanley at 6:22 am on Mar 18, 2003

The fact that Raed is on a computer at all should tell you something.

#2 from inkgrrl at 8:25 pm on Mar 18, 2003

That 48 hour loophole? I'm waiting to hear news broadcasters ranting about Saddam's lookalikes streaming across Iraq's various borders and being taken into custody by surrounding countries who then make the concomitant "sky is falling" pronouncements about how the US is going ahead with the war despite Saddam's capitulation to our terms. And then the egg on the face part where we get to point and laugh. And open fire.