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'Opening stages' of war under way

By Matt Dulin
The Daily Cougar

Confirming that U.S. warplanes had initiated military strikes on significant targets in Iraq, President Bush acknowledged in a nighttime address from the Oval Office that a "broad campaign" to remove Saddam Hussein from power had begun.

Shortly before dawn in Iraq, or about 9 p.m. central time, anti-aircraft weapons in Baghdad released fire upon unseen but heard warplanes. Bush called these air strikes the "opening stages" of the war to disarm Iraq "and free its people."

Bush cited the support of more than 30 nations, acting as a coalition that is providing support in logistics and manpower.

"These countries share the honor of serving for our common defense," Bush said.

When the deadline passed, people around the world held their breath. For two hours, nothing happened.

"At 8 p.m. tonight (Eastern time), the American people will know Saddam Hussein has committed his final act of defiance," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. "The president has urged Saddam Hussein to leave the country so that military conflict can be avoided."

Fleischer added a message from Bush to the people of Iraq:

"This is not your war. This is your regime; donit follow the orders of the regime. The Iraqi people are the innocents stuck in between," the press secretary said. "The president would very much like to see the Iraqi people save their lives, the Iraqi military save their lives, by laying down their arms and not following orders."

Addressing concerns that American lives are at risk, Fleischer said that has been on the minds of everyone in the Bush administration.

"The American people have clearly seen what has been developing for months and months and months … and the American people understand that if force is used, lives will be lost, indeed," he said.

Bush warned Wednesday night that U.S. efforts could be take longer than expected.

"But we will accept no other outcome but victory," he said.

Bush emphasized that the mission the armed forces has at hand is to "remove a threat" ­ Saddam Hussein ­ and "return the nation to its people" as quickly as possible.

He also assured the world that U.S. and coalition forces would make every effort to spare innocent civilians, but added at one point that intelligence indicated that Saddam had been planting weapons among civilians to use them as human shields.

"America faces an enemy … with no rules or morality," he said.

With the War on Iraq under way, anti-war demonstrators are set to host a teach-in on campus today starting at 10 a.m. in front of the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library. The Daily Cougar did not know of any pro-war rallies at press time.
 

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