Bush addresses the world- Pending War

[Sister Golden Hair]

"Shock and Awe" in progress.

[Elven Archer]

Originally posted by markedel
Who thinks Saddam is dead? I think that would be great. (see I'm sure JD and I agree on some things )

they confirmed that it was him making the speech. but they don't know if that was recorded before or after our strike.

[jerseydevil]

This what Fortune Magazine is saying is the plan for after the war as reported March 17th..

Iraq's New Chief?
Jay Garner is about to become the most important businessman you've never heard of. On leave from defense contractor L-3 Communications, he's on track to be the de facto governor of 23 million Iraqis after what looks like an inevitable U.S. invasion. Garner, 64, is an almost perfect fit for the job. As an Army general in 1991, he helped lead Operation Provide Comfort, which delivered food and shelter to Kurds in northern Iraq after the first Gulf war. He became well-known in military circles for espousing the then-unorthodox view that the military should be used as a "merciful instrument in shaping future humanitarian operations."

That's one reason his friend Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld brought Garner back to the Pentagon in January to head the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, which is working seven days a week to develop detailed plans for a post-Saddam Iraq. Insiders say Garner will implement those plans as the head of civil authority under General Tommy Franks.

Garner's civilian status is a big plus. After President Bush's heavy-handed walk-up to war, the last thing the U.S. needs is a modern-day General MacArthur rolling into Baghdad. And it will take someone with serious business know-how to "introduce a capitalist system where there's been central-control socialism since the 1960s," says Ariel Cohen, a foreign-policy expert at the Heritage Foundation. Garner has that too. He directed several major Defense Department programs, including Star Wars, a Rumsfeld favorite. After retiring as a three-star general in 1997, Garner became president of SY Technology, a Virginia provider of communications and targeting systems for missiles. SY was bought last year by L-3 Communications for a reported $48 million. After the merger, Garner ran an L-3 subsidiary that included his old company. "He put SY Technology on the map," says Gil Meyer, a retired Army general now working in the defense industry.

Colleagues describe Garner as hypercompetent, with a personal touch--a man who can solve tough problems without being overbearing. "He wouldn't dodge bullets; he'd bite them," says retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, who served with Garner in the Pentagon. Adds Gordon Sullivan, president of the Association of the U.S. Army: "He wasn't so tightly wound that he couldn't see the humor in situations." He tells co-workers to call him Jay, not General. And he maintains a deep compassion for the Iraqis. He keeps framed on his office wall pictures drawn by the children he helped in the aftermath of the first Gulf war.

But revitalizing Iraq will depend on two factors beyond Garner's control: the ability of U.S. soldiers to pacify Saddam's troops and the willingness of allies to assist in reconstruction (the tab could reach $20 billion a year, experts say). The military part of the cleanup will be led by Franks's Arabic-speaking deputy, Army Lt. Gen. John Abizaid. The rest--feeding the hungry, fixing the infrastructure, and creating a democratic government--will fall to Garner.

[Lizra]

Originally posted by Goatee
I was there, in Saudi Arabia.

I was a 19 year-old Private in the Army back then.

I went to your site and read how you helped design the flyers that were dropped during Desert Storm. This seems to be a very important component this time out too! I'm sure I'm over simplifying here, but it seems like the "enemy" is Saddam Hussein, the man, and the strategy is to convince the people he has suposedly terrorized (his countrymen and women) that he is a cooked goose. Get him, and end the war as quickly as possible. The email and info drop campaigns are very important!

[Elvellon]

Well, I just want to say I hope your troops return safe and sound and that no civilians die. I don’t agree with the war, but good luck, and safe return home.

[markedel]

Anyone here follow the "blogs of war" only on the internet can an Iraqi and Israeli and a Jew from New York e-mail each other stuff and debate the merits of American bombing in near real time.

It's surreal.

[Coney]

Typical.....the first british troops are killed by a friendly force

[Lizra]

That certainly sounds interesting! (Markedel's post!)

[Dúnedain]

Originally posted by Coney
Typical.....the first british troops are killed by a friendly force

No it was an accident, the helicopter crashed. How is that being killed by a friendly force?

[Sister Golden Hair]

Originally posted by Coney
Typical.....the first british troops are killed by a friendly force

Typical? My dear Coney, did you not expect deaths among the allied forces? This was an accident, not something intentional. They weren't killed by friendly fire, they were killed with four Americans in a helicopter that suffered from mechanical failure. Although sad, it happens in war.

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Sister Golden Hair
Typical? My dear Coney, did you not expect deaths among the allied forces? This was an accident, not something intentional. They weren't killed by friendly fire, they were killed with four Americans in a helicopter that suffered from mechanical failure. Although sad, it happens in war.

It happens in training missions too. Just a couple of weeks ago a Black Hawk helicopter went down near Niagara New York. last week another military helicopter had to make an emergency landing in a farm in Somerset County in New Jersey. Helicopters are the most dangerous of all flying vehicles. Accidents happen.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

But as Americanss were involved, it was obviously our fault, and obviously intentional.

[Firekitten2006]

ok since this is the first day since last weekend I've had my computer, and I really dont feel like reading all of these pages right now, I'm just gonna jump right in

I totally do not believe in this war. Yeah, Saddam is a horrible horrible person, yeah the Iraqi people should not have to live with him, no one should, but there could be other ways than war. Right? I mean honestly, a 6 year old child on the news put it in the best way I can think "Why cant they fix it without fighting?" I do support the troops. They dont exactly have a say in whether or not we go to war. I dont agree with Bush however. It really really is scaring me though. Has anyone been watching the MTV news? Like yesterday? I saw this thing they had from when Gideon went to Kuwait to see the troops. The commaders said they were about twice the age of most of the guys out there (which means the commanders were around 40ish) and they had already been in Desert Storm. You guys have probably already heard me worry about my dad, but I'm gonna do it again I dont know what I would do if he got called. I'm praying he wont, but he hasnt called me in about a month, so I'm starting to slightly worry. Living half way across the country from your dad definately has its drawbacks.

I'm praying this is a short and quick war, and very very few people are hurt or killed.

One thing that seriously annoys me is Bush continually using 9/11 as some sort of a shield. Maybe if someone has heard him talk, they can help me out here, I dont exactly know how to word it, but its buggin me! lol

Ok I'm done now! (realize this is the *first* post I've made in over a week! *sigh* that feels soooo much better!!!)

[Elvellyn]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
But as Americanss were involved, it was obviously our fault, and obviously intentional.

I dont think that was Coney's intention. I thik he was just pointing out the irony in the fact that the majority of the people that died were Brits. Of course, I could be totally wrong.

[Lady_of_the_Golden_Wood]

Originally posted by Elvellyn
I dont think that was Coney's intention. I thik he was just pointing out the irony in the fact that the majority of the people that died were Brits. Of course, I could be totally wrong.

Yeah, that's true, not many Americans have died yet. I feel really sorry for the innocent Iraqis.

[Elvellyn]

Well, the innocent Iraqis aren't the target of the war. It's the corrupt leaders that they're after.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally posted by Firekitten2006
"Why cant they fix it without fighting?"

This would certainly be preferable. If everyone would agree to that, it would be great. But what do you plan? Inviting Saddam over for tea to have a chat and clear the whole thing up? Sorry for the sarcasm, but how would you solve it without war?

[Lady_of_the_Golden_Wood]

I know, but some of them will die anyway.

[Dúnedain]

*sigh* I wish people would view the world with a form of realism and take the covers off their eyes...

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
This would certainly be preferable. If everyone would agree to that, it would be great. But what do you plan? Inviting Saddam over for tea to have a chat and clear the whole thing up? Sorry for the sarcasm, but how would you solve it without war?

Thanks - I was holding my tongue. But my feelings exactly. We gave Hussein plenty of time to come clean. I figured I'd let someone else handle it.

Again I don't see many people complaining about the attrocities of Hussein. It seems the deaths of thousands by him are fine since one has to see it.