Category: Iraqi War

The first strike of the war was apparently by cruise missiles, or by F117 bombers, to hit a target of oppurtunity – senior Iraqi officials.

At 2.30am GMT the first sound of anti-aircraft guns were heard, and the first bombs landed on targets in Baghdad. The US President will make an announcement at 3.15am GMT.

Jonathan Freedland poses the question: What would you suggest? He talks about the moral question posed by Blair concerning the removal of Saddam. He suggests that The UN could demand that Hans Blix’s team be joined by a squad of “human rights inspectors”, keeping tabs on, say, the fate of political prisoners. Interesting idea. But…

Meghan has prompted me to finally gather my thoughts on the Iraq war – due to start tonight. In her piece she attempts to clarify her own thinking, both for herself and for her readers. I too am attempting to take all I have read, in books and newspapers, and apply it to form an…

Here is the full text of Robin Cook’s passionate speech, for which he received a standing ovation.

Meg has a follow up post on the Kate Adie story. She cites various sources, and gives some good links. I agree with her that the US would not specifically target journalists – just that unauthorised transmissions could become targets – and they could be unilaterals.

The British Foreign Office has advised its citizens that there is a high risk of terrorist attacks in the Gulf region, and is now more likely given the impending invasion of Iraq. It warns its citizens to be wary of public places that are likely targets such as bars, hotels and nightclubs. This is the…

Tom McGurk writes a stirring piece this week. Some of the information he gives;I read last week in an article by George Monbiot. But as usual McGurk gives an excellent insight – the war will be illegal, there is no legal way to pre-emptively invade a country.

Paul Krugman is in the Herald Tribune today, a good read. He feels that the Bush administration is losing touch with reality – and is almost obsessive in its resolve to invade Iraq. He argues that this type of arrogance is what is turning the rest of the world against the US. He also points…