No bashing, but.....

[jamsmom]

I voted for Bush and really trust him. I am sure that he knows more about Iraq than I. However, is it REALLY going to be bad to give the inspectors more time?

Part of the rational sideof me thinks "If they have been moving stuff and hiding it, then more time just gives them more time to do the same."

The other part of me thinks about all of our men and women and I think maybe more time will be positive.

Anyone else on this board WANT to back President Bush, but kind of want more time?


Wouldn't it be nice if Iraqis took care of Saddam and we wouldn't have to go to war. I know that there are people in that country that don't support him deep down inside. They would have to take care of all his look alikes as well.

 

[Mom2Em]

I would never bash you for your opinion... {{{HUGS}}} we live in such confusing times... I'm glad I'm not the one that has to make that decision

 

[tstobb]

I would like for the UN to set a hard time line and then enforce it. Right now, it is doing nobody any good with the division. If 1441 needs to be enforced, enforce it. Iraq was given 30 days to produce their report, which they did in 29 days. The chief UN inspector says there are holes in the report. Where are the chemicals that the UN knows existed in Iraq 11 years ago? 30 days to show them or proof that they were destroyed (this isn't the kind of stuff you just dump in your backyard).
More inspectors won't solve anything (this from Mr. Blix). Only complete & unfettered cooperation will. Set a deadline & then stick to it or the validity of the UN is useless and the laughter from Iraq will continue.
Want to know the attitude of the people we're dealing with over there? Check out this thread: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=329580 or the story here: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030215/ap_wo_en_ge/eu_gen_italy_iraq_1

 

[Dan Murphy]

It is indeed a polarizing decision that must be made. I too am glad I do not have to make it. I am torn between the two also. I do feel he is lying and we will eventually have to go in and take care of it the hard way.

 

[Blondie]

I may be in the minority here, but I thought Colin Powell kicked butt yesterday.

I agree with everything he said.

We give Saddam more time, and he drags his feet even more...all the while everyone looks the other way, and Saddam once again gets away with it.

Saddam has had more than enough time to comply.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

IMO, it's clear we should follow the recommendation and give the inspectors the time they need. We have very little international support and need to remember that we share the earth with other countries whose opinions should hold equal weight with our own.

It's also my opinion that Powell didn't make a very strong case.

 

[grinningghost]

IMHO the man has had chance after chance to comply and has played enough games. The US Military is a voluntary organization. The men and women of the armed forces want to serve their country, they know the risks. Let's allow them to get in there and do the job they signed up for - and let's back them and be proud and thankful. No more inspections, no more talk - the time for disarmament is now.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I agree grinningghost - he's had more than enough time to comply.

As for what the Europeans think, when it comes to the defense of America, I find it difficult to care too much about the opinions of those that are anti-American and could care less about whether or not we are attacked again.

 

[Blondie]

08 November 2002

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441

Security Council Tightens Iraqi Disarmament Regime

United Nations -- The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution November 8 strengthening the weapons inspection regime for Iraq and giving Baghdad, in the words of the resolution, "a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations."

The resolution, number 1441, establishes an enhanced inspection regime for Iraq's disarmament, which will be carried out by the U.N. Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

All 15 council members voted for the resolution: permanent members China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States; and non-permanent members Bulgaria, Cameroon, Colombia, Guinea, Ireland, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, and Syria.

The resolution states that Iraq remains in material breach of council resolutions relating to Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait and requires that Baghdad give UNMOVIC and IAEA a complete and accurate declaration of all aspects of its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs and ballistic missiles systems, as well as information on other chemical, biological, and nuclear programs that are supposed to be for civilian purposes, within 30 days.

It gives UNMOVIC and IAEA, among other things, unrestricted rights of entry and travel into and throughout Iraq; provides for U.N. security for the inspectors; gives the inspectors the right to freeze sites and declare exclusion zones; and gives them the right to conduct interviews, either inside or outside the country, without the presence of Iraqi officials. Most importantly, it gives the inspectors immediate, unconditional, and unrestricted access to all sites in Iraq, including so-called presidential sites.

The resolution directs Hans Blix, executive chairman of UNMOVIC, and Mohamed ElBaradei, IAEA director general, to "report immediately to the council any interference by Iraq with inspection activities as well as any failure by Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations." The council will then "convene immediately ... in order to consider the situation and the need for full compliance with all of the relevant council resolutions in order to secure international peace and security," it says.

Finally, it warns Iraq that "it will face serious consequences" if it continues to violate its obligations as spelled out in the resolution.

 

[airhead]

....What the heck are we waiting for??????? Maybe the reason
the inspecters can't find any of the chemicals that Iraq says were destroyed,is because they were already sold to terrorist!!!!!
I agree that war is a final option,I think we're there....
My fear is those chemical are already in the hands of people that want us dead.

Airhead

 

[tstobb]

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) said on Saturday the United Nations (news - web sites) might need to pass a new resolution on Iraq and that arms inspections in Iraq could not continue indefinitely without Baghdad's cooperation.

"A second resolution could be necessary, but the council must decide when it will be taken and I believe a second resolution would follow the articles and conditions of resolution 1441," Annan told Abu Dhabi television.

"I believe inspectors should continue their work, but if there is no cooperation then the council will see that the operation has become meaningless and that inspections could end," he added.

"The ball is again in the Iraqi leadership's court," he said, adding that he did not believe that a war was inevitable.

Hasn't the ball been in their court all along?
Any new resolution needs to set a firm timetable that includes COMPLETE disclosure regarding anthrax, the nerve agent VX and long-range missiles that the UN KNOWS existed in Iraq - these aren't the kind of things that you get rid of by burying them in your backyard - where are they? If they were sold, the UN should demand the buyers ID. If they were destroyed, show positive proof. If they exist, bring them out (even though their declaration makes no reference to them). The UN needs to set deadlines AND ENFORCE THEM or it risks being seen as useless and inefective.
Go ahead, cross this line. Oh, you did? Well then, cross this line! Oh, you did? Well then, cross THIS line! Oh, you did . . .

When does it end? Do you need insight as to what the mentality of the Iraq government is? This quote is from Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz:

During a sometimes tense press conference at the Foreign Press Association, Aziz also refused to answer a question by an Israeli journalist about whether Iraq would target Israel during a war.
Aziz responded: "When I came to this press conference it was not in my agenda to answer questions by the Israeli media. Sorry."

At a press conference, going to see the Pope to talk about peace and the ethnic slurs can't be contained.

 

[damo]

Does anyone know what are the ramifications to the US by the UN if the US goes ahead without UN approval?

 

[AirForceRocks]

Does anyone know what are the ramifications to the US by the UN if the US goes ahead without UN approval?

Lots of whining and complaining, all while they continue to cash the checks we send and keep using the troops we provide...

 

[damo]

No, I'm serious. If the US goes against the UN aren't there some ramifications? I can't believe that any country can just do as they please against the decisions of the UN. Isn't that why we have the UN? The US is not the UN.

 

[AirForceRocks]

I'm serious too. Anything that they could do would have to come out of the UN Security Council, where we hold veto power.

 

[Beast]

No, I'm serious. If the US goes against the UN aren't there some ramifications? I can't believe that any country can just do as they please against the decisions of the UN. Isn't that why we have the UN? The US is not the UN.

It would seem that Iraq is able to ignore the UN, do what it wants, when it wants, IF it wants. The UN is irrelevant and usless. It's a joke and watching the Security Council "in action". It's like watching a Cantina scene from one of the Star Wars movies.

 

[JESW]

I feel the same way. I do like Bush but I wish he would give them more time. Hope this doesn't come back to bite us on the butt.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were professionals out there trying to kill Sadam without having to go to war.

My brother is still over in the persian gulf (Qatar) and we all just want him home NOW. (he is not in the service but over there for his job)

Jill

 

[damo]

I find it funny how the general public think they know so much more than the heads of states of Russia, China, etc. etc.

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by damo
I find it funny how the general public think they know so much more than the heads of states of Russia, China, etc. etc.

Oops! You forgot the U.S. and England and the you are also part of the "general public".
Everybody is entitled to their own opinion - don't bash me for mine!

 

[AirForceRocks]

I find it funny how the general public think they know so much more than the heads of states of Russia, China, etc. etc.

I find it funny that there are people that think we should turn over decisions on the defense of America to countries that are overrun with anti-American sentiment.