Volume 2 Issue 32
March 18, 2003
Waiting for War
The countdown begins, the traffic light goes back to Orange, and the dog race is almost ended
After spending much of the last few days up in New Jersey, I was again reminded this morning how different Washington is then most other cities nowadays. While in many areas a "code Orange" alert and the pending war with Iraq just means buying some more water at the Shop-n-Stop or putting some cash in the mattress, here it means waking up to fighter jets and helicopters buzzing your house every 10 minutes. Actually, today I did notice more security than usual, there were cops with dogs out at Union Station sniffing trucks making deliveries to the stores inside. The thing is that here we really don't notice these things as unusual anymore, and the bigger topic of conversation is that the weather is finally a bit warmer rather than increased security. Of course, I haven't gone to the supermarket yet this week...
So today the nation seems to have resigned itself to war, and though many seem to still disagree with it, most agree now that its only a matter of time. Obviously a lot of articles to sort through in the coming days, so you may see fewer notes some days as compiling the stories takes more of my time.
A note for those of you who have begun to read more recently. The articles I include are ones I think are important, but under no means do I claim to be a comprehensive review of the news, especially on an issue as complex as Iraq. For a general summary of war news each day, I'd recommend checking out the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com), which has on it's web page a "daily summary" that gives the important details each day! On a day like today when the war dominates the news, I'll also divide up the page into "Iraq" and "Non-Iraq" sections, so you can skip the war news if you want a break!
IRAQ/WAR NEWS:
The Failure of Bush Diplomacy: How it happened -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080262/
A great editorial in the New York Times today about the failure of diplomacy -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/opinion/18TUE1.html
Word now that the French may join the war if Hussein uses chemical weapons -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/18/sprj.irq.france.ch emicals/index.html
Iraq has supposedly rejected Bush's demands that Hussein step down, and is ready for the US invasion -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/international/middleeast/1 8CND-IRAQ.html
Bush: The "dry-drunk" accusations are back -
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2003/03/17/hsorensen.DTL
The "Coalition": Wow! Poland's sending 200 troops! We have an ally!
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-poland-iraq,0,1447989.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines
The British: Tony Blair is in the fight of his political life, trying to get the Commons to approve military action...he may have so many members of his Labor Party bolt that he may need to rely on the Conservatives to stay in power -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2860717.stm
Three members of his cabinet have resigned -
http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/3866799?source=Eve ning%20Standard
One of those to resign was former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, currently the party chair in the Commons. He will likely not lead a rebellion though -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2859183.stm
The Text of Cook's excellent resignation speech -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2859431.stm
The Kurds: Kurds are fleeing cities in Northern Iraq, fearing Turkish invasion and Iraqi reprisals -
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20030318-56205148.htm
Tim Noah says it looks like the US may not sell out the Kurds -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080273/
The Proof...or lack thereof: Still unknown is who forged the documents that Colin Powell presented to the Security Council -
http://slate.msn.com/id/2080238/
And even the administration can't keep their story straight about the proof of the day -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42517-2003Mar17.html
The Homeland: Washington is again a jittery place -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/politics/18MOOD.html
The Homeland Security Traffic Light is back to Orange -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41737-2003Mar17.html
And in one of the more bizarre stories of the day, a man drove a tractor into a pond on the Mall yesterday, and as of this writing was still involved in a standoff with police some 20 hours later. This has also closed various federal buildings in the area, and closed major roads. Hmm...I'm sure the commuters stuck in traffic would gladly put and end to this -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44600-2003Mar18.html
The Plan: The US hopes to quickly capture the city of Basra, which would give them control of Iraq's largest port -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/international/middleeast/1 8BASR.html
US troops also plan to try and keep Iraqi troops from surrendering by forming capitulation agreements with Iraqi commanders -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42566-2003Mar17.html
The Aftermath: Paul Krugman wonders what type of world we'll live in after the war -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/opinion/18KRUG.html
Nick Kristof on the lessons of Troy -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/opinion/18KRIS.html
The Media: TV Networks are preparing for war, now that they know when it will begin -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43613-2003Mar18.html
The NCAA Tournament could be postponed -
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/2003/nca a_tourney/news/2003/03/17/ncaa_postpone_ap/
The Oil: Oil prices have fallen on the speculation that war will bring an end to the uncertainty in the Middle East -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2860417.stm
But Gas in the US is at the highest prices ever -
http://boston.com/dailynews/076/economy/Gasoline_prices_hit_ record_hig:.shtml
The Celebs: Following up on yesterday's discussion...does anyone actually listen to celebrities that lobby for causes?
http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-02-27-anti-war-cover_x.htm
And...that other country is still there...: Americans in the DMZ in Korea are watching the Iraq conflict too, while worrying about their own -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/international/asia/18DMZ.h tml?8hpib
Fredrick Kagan theorizes that North Korea may be planning an attack due to our diplomatic ineptitude -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42821-2003Mar17.html
And the rest of the insanity...
Health Watch: A new disease, now called SARS, continues to spread through Asia -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/health/18INFE.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2859825.stm
5 more nations have it now:
http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/03/18/mystery.disease/index.h tml
And in an unrelated note, former NY Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan is in critical condition after developing an infection during an emergency appendectomy -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38393-2003Mar17.html
Look Who's Running for President: Chris Dodd, who decided not to run for President last month, endorsed Joe Lieberman yesterday -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/politics/campaigns/18DODD. html
Look Who's Running for President 2: Wesley Clark has an op-ed on the post-war plans in today's USA Today -
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2003-03-17-clark_x.htm
Look Who's Running for President 3: Howard Dean said he would continue to critize the war while backing the troops -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/politics/18CONG.html
Look Who's Running for President 4: Gephardt leads the Dems in a new USA Today poll. Bush's numbers look worse and worse too, though we'll have to see what the war does to them -
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-17-bushdems-usat_x.htm
A quiet victory: It looks like the GOP plan to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve is dead -
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/18/politics/18DRIL.html
The Elizabeth Smart Case: Charges were finally filed today, and they did include sexual assault charges -
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Elizabeth-Smart.html
A debate apparently raged over whether or not to charge the kidnappers with sexual assault as well, and how much Smart will have to rehash at a trial -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42091-2003Mar17.html
The family is pleading for privacy, but most agree the details will probably come out eventually -
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03182003/utah/39252.asp
Smart toured the hills near her home in a police helicopter over the weekend, pointing out where she stayed to police -
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Mar/03172003/utah/38973.asp
And...the family is dealing with hundreds of book and movie offers...because that wouldn't make her relive the experience either I'm sure -
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=493& ;ncid=790&e=1&u=/ap/20030317/ap_en_mo/smart_story
But this is the success story? Those "I-Saw-You" ads apparently sometimes work...but then again, we don't hear the horror stories here -
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/TechTV/techTV_missedc onnections030318.html
Researchers have also shown that marriage does not make one happier -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/03/17/marriage.poll.reut/inde x.html
Well, at least we'll have Tony! The Soprano's standoff is over, and the season will begin filming soon -
http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/18/television.sopranos .reut/index.html
Even more? The NFL may expand the playoffs. Again. -
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2003/03/18/sports0610EST0141.DTL&type=sports
It's almost over! You're Iditarod 31 Action!
Just one musher remains on the course. The last place "red lantern" finisher will be Russ Bybee, a 37 year old rookie. Bybee is currently on the last leg of the race, and should finish sometime today in 44th place. A final summary will come tomorrow!-
Current Standings
You thought I'd forget your Iditarod photo of the day?
I know it's not me, but all us Norwegians look the same in sub-zero weather!
Have a great day!
