Strong words indeed. I think intent was cleverly directed at Russia.

Is this a good thing?

Syria.

Sheesh.

Well, shall we sick the UN on them? Heaven knows they were astoundingly effective with Iraq. And Afghanistan. And Bosnia. And Rwanda...

Why, the meer threat of the mighty UN diplomatic corps descending on them would be enough to cause them to cease...

(See monkey. See monkey fly out Annan's ass.)

J.

Can somebody explain to me, how in the world a country like Syria got into the Security Council?

Hell yes!
We're already considered a "rogue state" by the rest of the world, so lets lean on them as well.

I'm starting to understand that giddy feeling of unaccountability that South Africans must have felt for decades.

Now, lets target all those orphanages!!!

What was that drinking song we use to sing in Vietnam? "Strafe the towns and kill the people"

Jim Hogue, CMSgt, USAF ret

Jim: I normally have the utmost respect for veterans. For you, I'll make an exception.

I beleive that Iraq was up for the rotating presidency of the U.N. Disarmament Comittee. this is not a joke, it was on NROnline about a month or so ago.

Tim,
It's called "irony."

I'm just providing counterpoint that we, as a country, are taking casualties in an attempt to minimize civilian casualties.

I have been on the ground when people were shooting at me - in combat everyone is convinced every shot they hear is aimed at them – and the current rules of engagement are more restrictive than any I’ve seen. We had more liberal rules in Haiti and no one there was shooting at us except thugs and criminals!

I hope, vainly I’m sure, that when this is all over someone will point out that the very first casualty in this war treated in a military hospital was an Iraqi soldier.

Jim Hogue CMSgt, USAF ret

How did Syria get to be on the Security Council? Bush let them, two months or so after 9/11. I still can't imagine why.

How can it not be a good thing to inform the nations that are aiding our enemies that we consider such aid a hostile act? What are we supposed to do? Smile and write them another aid check?

I think having the Assads in fear of a mechanized division mowing down their legions of thugs and imported terrorists is a very good thing. These people will never love us, so we better make them fear us.

I hate to ask our troops to go straight from a nasty fight in Iraq to another nasty one in Syria.

Unless we got Israel to help...hmmm..."Hey, guys, you think we're declaring war on the Arab World now? You ain't seen NOTHING yet!" (note: I'm just kidding. Mostly)

I think Rumsfeld is buying time and political advantage until such time that coalition forces can seal the Syrian border.

The whole point of fighting Iraq now is to prevent a wider war from breaking out later. Syria really does not want to take on the USA right now. And the USA would much rather deal with Syria diplomatically. Rumsfeld going public now sends Syria and the rest of the world (Russia) the message that running arms to Iraq is intolerable. Cutting off Saddam's source of outside help will shorten the war.

This is not hard to understand. Rumsfeld is warning Syria not to give as much help as they have been giving lately to Iraq.

By the way, I tend to believe Debka.com that the missile that destroyed the bus 50km inside Syria was NO ACCIDENT. Think about the unlikelihood of it being a mistake. The bus was supposedly filled with Hamas/Hezzbolah fighters going to join Iraq.

Rumsfield mentioned they were carrying night vision gear. I have a feeling some Special Ops people stopped them and made some serious threats after taking any supplies.

yes
americans never do anything by chance
they kill by purpose
they kill by plan
they kill by mind
fuck those killers

Syria is next. Pretty obvious. When Bush and Rumsfeld speak, don't look for hidden, clintonesque meanings -- just listen and trust 'em.

I have this image of Syrian soldiers dressed like Red Army soldiers and armed like Iraqi thugs. The difference will be that we won't even try to give 'em a republican system. Optical Assad's a goner, just like Sammy.

Guess I called that one, and yesterday, too!

Like, for instance, Syria!

A: "Officers here believe the missile may be a new Russian variant, known as a Cornet, purchased despite United Nations sanctions on arms sales to Iraq." http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/26/international/worldspecial/26CND-INFA.html

B: "Syrian President Bashar Assad was quoted in the Lebanese newspaper As-Safir Thursday as hinting that Syria expects to be the next target of coalition forces.
"We will not wait until we become the next target," Assad was quoted as saying, adding that the attack on Iraq is aimed at other countries as well. " http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/277670.html

C: "Moscow selling arms to Syria - A Russian newspaper reported that a Russian armaments factory had begun supplying 1,000 Cornet anti-tank missile systems, the London Times reported on June 12 (1998 - Steve). The Soviet Union had supplied Syria with large quantities of weapons on credit up through 1989. President Gorbachev froze sales until Syria paid back an $11 billion debt. This is the first weapons sale to Syria since 1991." http://www.clw.org/atop/atn/atn0698.html