|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jens 'n' Frens
Idle thoughts of a relatively libertarian Republican in Cambridge, MA, and whomever he invites. Mostly political.
"A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures."
-- Daniel Webster
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, February 06, 2003 :::
I stayed up too late last night watching Powell at the UN on tape-delay. I hope he won some converts, because he did seem to compromise some sources. What he made perfectly clear was that Iraq has (present tense) weapons programs and is taking extraordinary measures to keep them and keep them hidden; what he made a less firm case for was that Iraq is supporting al-Qaeda; what he mentioned a couple times but, I think, should have hammered at more, is how helpless this leaves certainly this and to some extent any inspections regime, and why, thus, temporary full possession of the country is becoming our only choice.
Until we get full support for that, I'd like to see a compromise: militarily supported inspections. Pass the resolution stating that Iraqi attacks on U2s supporting inspections will be considered an act of war eligible for immediate response, but also put fighter jets in the sky to bomb out roads in front of apparent moving weapons labs. Make immediate use of any timely intelligence for strategic strikes to pin down or, if necessary, immediately destroy targets. None of this would yet be targeted at the regime, or even for the most part its conventional military; it would merely put the force of law behind the inspections.
::: posted by dWj at 1:30 PM
|
|
|
|
