Western Iraq

As I noted earlier, I figured the way we would keep Israel quiet during a war with Iraq would be to put American special forces on the ground in western Iraq to hunt SCUDs and to let the Israelis join us. This is more effective than letting the Israeli air force go after the Iraqis and far less visible.

President Bush has pledged to put US troops on the ground there to do just that. Since the article stated that Israeli special forces had gone in over the summer, we can conclude that we will let the Israelis participate too. And Jordan must be on board to have allowed Israelis through their country to go to Iraq.

The pieces fall into place. I’m not worried about the wrangling at the United Nations. Some worry we are capitulating. I don’t. I figure we asked for far more than we need in order to “retreat” under pressure from the French and Russians. They are more interested in the process so giving them such a victory will be sufficient for them to go away happy. I imagine we will get what we need. And if we don’t? So what? We can argue that our “allies” won’t meet us halfway, pack our papers, and go home. We have sufficient authority in existing UN resolutions on Iraq. We have Congressional authorization. If the Security Council won’t give us new ones adequate for going to war, we’ll let them sit this one out. Let the Russians and French try to get their Iraq debts paid if that happens!