Many news reports and diplomatic sources are convinced that the Bush administration has decided to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein of Iraq, and the only questions now are exactly how, when, and at what price, in economic and diplomatic terms of quid-pro-quo with Russia, France, Saudia Arabia and other affected nations. You can bet that some pretty intense negociations are going on behind the scenes right now regarding a post-Saddam Iraq.

Asian Times claims that Bin Laden is in Iraq

Here’s a report in the Asian Times alleging connections between Saddam and Bin Laden, and claiming that Osama has actually taken refuge in Iraq. If only he would! That would certainly make Bush’s job of bringing Europe on board for the upcoming war much easier.

After Bin Laden, Saddam is America's great threat

By Mark Bowden, Knight Ridder Newspapers.

All true, and very frightening. It does seem that we have no choice but to deal with Saddam, and to play for keeps this time. Before it's too late.

Blair and Bush to plot war on Iraq

by Kamal Ahmed, The Observer (UK)

French sources are saying the same thing. Bush and Blair are convinced that Saddam has to be taken out, and the military planning is in the advanced stages.

Anti-Iraq Rhetoric Outpaces Reality

By Walter Pincus and Karen DeYoung, Washington Post

Now this is fascinating. I doubt if we’re really that unprepared at the present time. But I’ll bet we’d sure like Saddam to believe that we’re still a year away from being ready…

and from a recent MSNBC article:

“…there is one more uncertainty in the campaign to get rid of Saddam, and it is the most frightening. The Iraqi strongman is not a suicidal religious fanatic; he does not appear to want to die a martyr’s death. But what if he feels trapped, believing that the Americans really are coming for him, dead or alive? Will he lash out and try to use his chemical or biological weapons? Before the gulf war, Bush “41’s” secretary of State, James Baker, quietly warned Saddam that if Iraq used a WMD, the United States would no longer feel constrained in its own use of weapons. Rather than risk the nuclear incineration of Baghdad, Saddam did not fire off any rounds from his chem-bio arsenal. But American war aims in 1991 did not include “regime change”; in the next war, Saddam’s demise will be the war aim.”

I think there's a very real danger that Saddam will lash out with horrific consequences when he finally realizes that the end is near for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he launches chemical and biological attacks on whoever he can reach. But we still have no choice but to cut him down before his reach extends much, much further...