The Liberation of Iraq - an Update
In an obvious snub to the governments of France, Belgium, and Germany, President Bush met with Prime Ministers Blair and Aznar on one of the small Azores isles at a US Air Force base. These leaders announced that today was D-day for UN vote on Iraq. In a Final chance for the UN to stick to its guns on resolution 1441, the security council will meet today for a last round of diplomacy.
Bush's speech encourages weary troops as they are tired of waiting around and are ready to liberate Baghdad. There are many signs that liberation of Iraq is imminent. The US tells UN inspectors to leave Iraq. The media are pulling out many of their people. President Bush and his team has continually stated that March 17 was the deadline for a diplomatic solution and Bush a reputation of meaning what he says. Many in the media talk about the Arab Street or the European Street when they discuss potentially negative consequences of a war. But they mostly ignore the American Street. And it is growing more united each day.
The poll suggests that Americans' patience is wearing thin. Nearly six in 10 say diplomatic efforts to win international support have taken too much time.
''I believe we went far enough with inspections,'' says Leroy Hanson, 69, a retiree in Orange City, Fla. ''The U.N. is being very weak and not holding up their end of it.''
Public attitudes toward France, Russia and Germany have eroded sharply. More than two in three Americans say France is being unreasonable in its opposition to a resolution that could lead to war. More than half say France is ''stabbing the U.S. in the back.''
Chris Muir captures the sentiment of the American public quite well.
On the appeaser front, German Chancellor Schroeder is being realistic and stated that the chances of reaching a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi crisis were slimmer than ever. He has even closed the Geman embassy in Baghdad. Chirac continues to play politics. Ever since agreeing to resolution 1441, which gave Iraq 60 days to comply with UN demands or face "serious consequences", Chirac has since refused to consider realistic deadline. Fearing he had overplayed his hand by unilaterally stating he would veto any future UN resolution, Chirac said he would consider a 30-day deadline for the inspectors to finish their work. This is too little, too late. It looks like the French realize they are going to be blamed by most Europeans when the UN is ignored. One of their ministers is now urging the Pope to become a human shield for Iraq.
The international reaction to the UN deadline was mixed throughout the world is mixed, as one would expect. Japan and Australia strongly support the Liberate Iraq position, India is playing a neutral role, and China and Indonesia continue to oppose military intervention. When all is said and done, the announcement probably didn't change the minds of anyone. Nor was it expected to do so in my opinion. Bush, Blair, and Aznar - representing the Coalition of the Willing - are giving the UN one last chance to live up to Resolution 1441. If it does not, and given Chirac's promised veto it probably will not - it will be ignored and the people of Iraq will be liberated despite the French, Geman, and Belgium governments.
After the war is over, Bush Has Audacious Plan to Rebuild Iraq Within Year. Washington is under international pressure to broaden a postwar rebuilding effort, even as it continues to do battle with traditional allies over the merits of launching a war on Iraq. The article doesn't mention from where this "international pressure" is coming, but it is most likely coming from the same people who want to continue to appease Saddam. If so, the hypocrisy of leaders who say "Don't liberate Iraq, but if you do use your military at your expense, make sure your hire some of our firms to rebuild Iraq" is striking.
If any of the oppressed people in Iraq are reading this, your liberation should soon be at hand. I recommend that my American readers fill up their gas tanks today as prices will probably spike as soon as the war is announced or starts.