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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KLP who wrote (36014)	8/5/2002 6:01:40 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Respond to of 281500

I see a gradual escalation of pressure upon Saddam, and an incrementalist approach to ramping up air attacks. It's almost like slipping into a hot-bathtub; first your toe, then your foot, and then you're ready to sink your whole body in.... Let's just hope we don't wind up like Frogs.. Y'now.. put a frog in hot water and they'll jump right out.. But put them a pot of cold water and gradually bring it to a boil and they'll die without even making an attempt to leap out.... But it will make the Arab world recognize that we're serious about, once again, defanging Saddam, and ripping apart his air defense system. And this time, with GPS guided munitions we really don't even have to fly below the clouds. Just punch in a coordinate and let 'em go. We could have Stealth bombers flying overhead acting as bomb trucks and they'd never even know what hit them. And this time we have to strike at his "palaces" (21-40+) in order to destroy not only his image, but his political esteem. But bombing is only part of it. We have to create a sense of dissension palpable enough to motivate Saddam's "nobility" (cronies) to recognize that he's on the way out and that being attached to him is now a liability to their future power and priviledge. Saddam retains power through both terror, but also through doling out power to subordinates who please him. When Saddam loses that ability to dole out perqs, those followers will look to who will be in power next in order to "cut a deal" and preserve what they already have. Saddam will attempt to prop up his fearful supporters, and delay the inevitable, by "reaching out" and offering compromises with the US and UN to avoid armed attack. But we must continue to pressure him to completely abide by UN protocols and effectively "drop his drawers" for a complete inspection. And no despotic ruler can do something like and retain the confidence and support of his "nobility" and cronies. They will see his weakness and all eventually vy to replace him and cut a deal with the US. Here's an interesting article on Saddam that shows the paranoia with which he has ruled that nation. Very much like a Howard Hughes/Adolf Hitler combination. abcnews.go.com Hawk