Practicalmadness

This evening U.S. President George W. Bush told the American people they can stop saying 'if we go to war...', announcing that unless Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, his sons and his entire regime abdicate and leave Iraq within forty-eight hours, a quarter-million American troops (aided by friends from Britain, Spain, Australia and other allies) will do it for them.

As for the notion that a super power like the United States should not wage war unless it is attacked first, Mr. Bush said that would be folly in the age of deadly weapons and ruthless terrorists. "It is not self-defense," Mr. Bush said. "It is suicide."

Mr. Bush said America and its allies have no choice but to move on Iraq, unless Mr. Hussein steps aside. Mr. Hussein and his cronies have been reckless in the Middle East, are in league with terrorists and are driven by "a deep hatred for America," Mr. Bush said.

At one point, the president vowed, "Instead of drifting along toward tragedy, we will set a course for safety." (New York Times via Gleaner)

Earlier today the U.S., British and Spanish ambassadors to the United Nations withdrew a proposed Security Council resolution which would have declared Iraq to be in violation of the UN's weapons inspection process, thus endorsing the use of force by member states (read: the U.S.) to ensure yada yada yada. Anyway, they withdrew it, after France and Germany vowed to veto it, and other, non-permanent Council members (who do not have a veto) vowed not to support it.

Now, what does this mean for you, Practical Reader?

The national terror alert level has been raised to Orange (again), and tonight we've told basically the entire Muslim world that they're gonna be our bitch, and they're gonna love it.

If I were Osama bin Laden, I'd be sending out recruiting tapes like they were AOL discs, and stocking up on nylons, chewing gum and anthrax spores to issue to the troops. If I were Kim Jong Il, I'd write the word "nucular" on the side of a cardboard box, go on national TV and just let the good times roll.

Me, I plan on working on my website and going to bed. As you see.

(Zzzzzzzzz.)