War, When?

[Chuck_Darwin]

I think that we(USA) will be going to war with Iraq(not that I want to to or think that we should).

So does anyone have a prediction, guess, or prophecy, as to what the date will be?

I guess feb 14, 2003.

 

[Nelzador]

It depends. The U.S. & it's ally have two options. If they go in around about now, they'll advoid a harsher summer campaign, so troops will be fighting in more tolerant conditions. If they wait until summer, there's the chance to build more troops up, but it'll be hotter.

However, we (US & UK) have one distinct advantage over Iraq in ground combat and that's night vision. Our troops can fight clearly against a blind opponent.

Saddam's conceeded the skies to America, so the air war has been won and a prolonged air campaign could have an almost equal if not greater effect on Iraqi ground forces as it did during Gulf War 1.

I think we'll go in early with a long and brutal air campaign before any armored divisions go in.

 

[Blindfaith]

I talked with alonesoldier on AIM this morning, and he thinks if we do it, it will be the beginning of February if not before. 

Unless France has their way, then we could be doing inspections for years.

 

[Nelzador]

Well, France has said it would be more tolerant towards war if the inspectors were given two more months to find more weapons and if they are met with continuing restrictions by Iraq, then they would "support" military action.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

The first report from the inspectors is on Jan. 27. The State of the Union address is on Jan. 28. The President will probably use this speech to reveal whatever evidence he has been keeping for the right moment. We will probably be fighting within two weeks of that date, so I predict February 11, 2003 at the latest.

 

[datan]

and what if there is no concrete evidence, but more political rhetoric? Also, since the report is due the day before the State of the Union address, I wouldn't be surprised that regardless of what the report says, the speech will be finalised before the report is even released to the UNSC ie. the report will make no consequence to Bush's decision which will presumably be announced on or shortly after the State of the Union address.

 

[TheBear]

The UN weapons inspectors are not out on some kind of scavanger hunt. They are looking for evidence that Saddam Hussein either dismantled or destroyed tens of thousands of chemical and biological weapons, tons of mustard gas materials, serin gas materials, and biological materials - things that are known to have been in his possession 12 years ago. It is the lack of any evidence that he destroyed them, that causes most to believe that he still posseses them.

The UN teams destroyed some of them before they left 4 years ago, but nowhere near the amount that is unaccounted for.

The 'mother of all shell games' has been going on for years. Where are all the unaccounted for WMD's?

 

[stray bullet]

Originally posted by datan
and what if there is no concrete evidence, but more political rhetoric? Also, since the report is due the day before the State of the Union address, I wouldn't be surprised that regardless of what the report says, the speech will be finalised before the report is even released to the UNSC ie. the report will make no consequence to Bush's decision which will presumably be announced on or shortly after the State of the Union address.

I'd say the evidence was the fact we are AT WAR RIGHT NOW. They continue to attack our planes in the no-fly zones and we attack the installations that aided them in doing so.

This makes no sense to me. If Americans are not willing to go to war with Iraq, we will be welcoming another 9-11, because we will be making the same mistakes we did from 1993-2001, we appeased the Arab world by refusing to punish fully those that attacked us.

 

[ocean]

I think this needless war will break out in the next 2 weeks. Dubya has already said that there will be war regardless of what the inspectors find (or don't find) and/or without UN approval.


WAR IS MURDER

 

[TheBear]

Originally posted by ocean
I think this needless war will break out in the next 2 weeks. Dubya has already said that there will be war regardless of what the inspectors find (or don't find) and/or without UN approval.


WAR IS MURDER

What would you suggest be done?

 

[ocean]

Continue the inspections, and provide humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people.

 

[TheBear]

Originally posted by ocean
Continue the inspections, and provide humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people.

What will this accomplish?

 

[tamtam92]

Well, why not send missionaries instead of soldiers. Iraq is one of the rare middle-east countries that does no harm to christians, isn't it ?

I'm against any form of war. But especially against unfair wars.

 

[Nelzador]

Originally posted by ocean
Continue the inspections, and provide humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people.

I agree with Bear, what will this achieve ultimately for the Iraqi people?

 

[Nelzador]

Originally posted by tamtam92
Well, why not send missionaries instead of soldiers. Iraq is one of the rare middle-east countries that does no harm to christians, isn't it ?

I'm against any form of war. But especially against unfair wars.

I wish there was other ways to avoid conflict, but sending Missionaries would not have the desired effect, other than to antagonize the largely Muslim population, which has increased rapidly since UN sanctions were imposed. Iraq has more Muslims now than before the Gulf War, although the Baath party is still largely secular

 

[LilyLamb]

Missionaries would be killed - they have no tolerance for Americans, let alone a Christian.

I'm concerned that we may not have any allies to help us in this war ... I see more and more countries pulling back ...

If we go it alone - and I really don't like the idea of going to war - how will we fair without anyone helping us???

 

[tamtam92]

Missionaries would be killed - they have no tolerance for Americans, let alone a Christian.

I disagree.

 

[datan]

Originally posted by LilyLamb
Missionaries would be killed - they have no tolerance for Americans, let alone a Christian.

funny you should say that -- I've seen reports of "Live from Baghdad" on cable TV, reports in the press of reporters in Iraq, reports of American activists going to Iraq and being treated pretty well...

 

[TheBear]

tamtam92,

In all seriousness, you don't really believe that Christian missionaries would be welcomed with open arms in Iraq, do you?

 

[datan]

which Muslim nation are they welcomed with open arms, for that matter?