Today is Pearl Harbor Day

Letty- I think that the problem is, that there is nothing to tell.... yet. Trying to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is probably statistically less likely than finding a needle in a haystack, IMO.While the U.N. was sitting around debating, Saddam and his henchman were probably scrambling around to hide the evidence.

I think that the American government had to hold off on committing any aggressive acts towards Iraq until the UN was through with its deliberations, and the inspections completed, for two reasons-

It would give the allies of the US time to realize that Saddam is still pulling his stalling game. He has absolutely no intention of giving up any weapons of mass destruction. In time, this realization would ally like thinking nations with the US, which would be valuable in time of war.

It gives the US the opportunity to put a war machine in place.

As far as December 7, I am more concerned about a serious terrorist attack on this date. Psychologically, it would be quite a coup for the terrorists!

You've made several good points, Phoenix, and yes, a good day for dying as well as a good day for rousing anew the patriotic spirit..Remember the Alamo....Remember the maine...War and Remembrance...etc.

If we do release evidence it will be to refute the declaration Iraq was required to make. But I doubt our evidence will be worth releasing.

Craven, Do you think it's a done deal, then and that we're just going through the motions?

It's not a done deal IMO but is as close to it as it can get. The administration is getting some curveballs thrown at them (like the fact that the Iraqi declaration will be examined and perhaps edited before it's realeased) but I think they'll eventually hit the ball.

I wish the administration would stop banging the drums during the inspections, it makes us look too eager.

Saying things like that every country with an active intelligence program "knows" about Iraqi WOMD is silly. It just raises the question of why this evidence isn't being used to find the WOMDs and only to keep the drum roll rolling.

Think so, Craven? Seems like we've given Iraq an easy way out, only provided they can continue to hide weapons and weapons' developement sites, which I do believe exist. That is, if Saddam can present an appearance of compliance, doesn't that sort of steal our thunder?

Anyway, without some fairly substantial cooperation from Turkey and the Saudis, a war would be difficult to prosecute, and an occupation would be almost impossible to maintain.

<Not quite addressing Letty's topic>

Yes, It looks as though the minstrel boys are going to war..."...beat,beat,drums".

Yeah, Rog. You're completely on thread--just lookin' at clouds from both sides, I reckon.

roger,

I am pretty sure they have them. I also think they won't admit to it. But if we say the lie is a material breach without throwing a bone to the peace camp it just makes us look eager.

Turkey just said that they do not want substantial troops hosted there and that they will only agree to help if there is a second resolution. So I think it's to our own interests not to look too eager to jumpstart this because there's a chance Sadaam will do something stupid and take the onus off of us.

I think that if we say they are lying, we put ourselves in the position of proving the lie. I believe they are, but the rest of the world doesn't seem to be going for the idea that our saying it is so, makes it so.

Well, they don't want to see a war in Iraq, and possibly their desires are being shaped by their desires. Possibly, I'm just being overly suspicious in the absence of hard evidence.

I do think Iraq has such weapons, both in fact and in development, and should be deprived of both the weapons and the means to produce them in the immediate future. As I've said before, though, I don't believe it is the job of the United States and Britain to carry the rest of the world's freight in the absence of support and in the face of its criticism.

Edit - delete material copied into response block.

We have several American flags out today, in my small town to mark Pearl Harbor Day.

Would you believe that my Far Side calendar doesn't even mention that it's Pearl Harbor Day on it? I knew it was, but I thought it a little strange that it wasn't mentioned.

Speaking of Saddam...Did you see on the news a little while ago that he'd apologized to the people of Kuwait for the occupation of their country in '90-'91? Of course, along with that apology he asked for their support...

I always remember 12/7 is Pearl Harbor Day.

You recall that 12/8 is the Immaculate Conception day for Catholics.

Didn't know about the Immaculate Conception Day, but then I'm not Catholic and, well...

Did know about Pearl Harbor Day, though, and just thought it weird that it wasn't mentioned on the calendar.

Matrix500- It probably is not on a calendar 'cause it's NOT a holiday!

That's true, Phoenix, but it is an important date to remember. And, there are a lot of other "special dates" that are mentioned on the calendar that aren't holidays either.

Matrix500- You are right. We should never forget Pearl Harbor, nor 9/11.
Even though enemies may come and go, and change with the generations, we need to have these reminders, so that people will learn and understand the impact of the horrible things that we do to one another. Hopefully, it will help future generations to use those lessons to create a more tolerant, peaceful society!

Phoenix...EXACTLY! Holidays and big shopping sale days they are NOT, but they are very important dates that should always be remembered.