Tony Blair: Hello, 10 Downing, Prime Minister speaking.

Muammar Qadaffi: Umm, hi. This is Muammar Qadaffi...

TB: I'm sorry, who?

MQ: Muammar Qaddafi! Q-A...I mean, K-H...You know. Libya? Crazy dictator? Likes green a lot?

TB: I'm sorry, no, still don't place the name.

MQ: Don't you remember? I was bigtime in the terrorist game in the 80's.

TB: The chap that blew up the American plane over Scotland?

MQ: Allegedly blew up the American plane. That billion dollar payment was no admission....

TB: I'm sorry, this was Mark Geragos calling?

MQ: Revolutionary Leader Colonel Muammar Qadaffi of Libya!

TB: Right. Sorry, you sounded like someone else just then.

MQ: Look, reason I'm calling, I was just thinking. I don't want to get dragged out of a hole in the ground looking like Ted Kaczynski...

TB: Noone really does. Aside from that Kaczynski chap, I mean.

MQ: Exactly.

TB: So that's it then?

MQ: Pretty much.

TB: I'll let President Bush know, then.

MQ: Thank you.

Friday, December 19, 2003

WASHINGTON — Libya will allow international inspectors to enter the country and search for weapons of mass destruction, President Bush (search) announced Friday.

Bush said the step is "of great importance" in the global fight against terror.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi (search) has admitted trying to develop weapons of mass destruction but now plans to halt all such programs, Bush said. Earlier, British Prime Minister Tony Blair (search) made a similar announcement.

Britain says that Libya acknowledged trying to develop a nuclear bomb, and also revealed "significant quantities of chemical agent," according to Reuters news service.

Funny.

For strong language and Dean content.

Hey, I have a winning strategy for the Democrats. Lets create a meme that Bush lacks will.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. That's rich. Look, Bush may have political liabilities, but lack of will is definitely not one of them.

That's like saying that Dean lacks anger, or Kerry lacks a proper appreciation for the UN.

C'mon guys, you are getting terrible.

I watched the attempted flight of the EAA 1903 Wright Flyer this morning, with moistened eyes.

I hope that those guys do manage to get the thing into the air today. Apparently it is not an easy bird to fly, which is a testament to the skills of the Wrights. However, this group of volunteers has put an extraordinary amount of time and effort into this endeavor, and I am pulling hard for them to pull it off.

You see, I have an emotional attachment to flight that is even greater then politics. My screen name, pittspilot, suggests this. The name refers to my preferred mount when flying, the Pitts Special. The one pictured below is one that I have spent considerable hours aloft in. I rarely write about flying, as describing the sensation defies my writing talents.

So, everyone, pull for the group of EAA volunteers, and lets see the Wright flyer get airborne again.

*UPDATE* Apparently, Burt Rutan's group hit the speed of sound today, a first for a private entity. That man is a genius.

In The Corner, K-Lo points out an article about MG Odierno, commander of the 4th ID. The article notes that MG Odierno was a tight end on the Army football team.

Reminds me of a quote from GEN George C. Marshall - "I want an officer for a secret and dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player."

but I am guessing that this is getting pretty heavily Farked right now.

Six months from now, we'll hear "He said the bad stuff was over in Iraq," referring to this line - "In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over." Despite the fact he also said this:

I also have a message for all Americans: The capture of Saddam Hussein does not mean the end of violence in Iraq. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the heart of the Middle East. Such men are a direct threat to the American people, and they will be defeated.

In other news, it is after noon and after church, so the celebratory eggnog (fueled by Bacardi 8) has begun. Later, celebratory sangria. Gunfire is frowned on in my neighborhood.

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Yesterday, December the 13th, at around 8:30 p.m. Baghdad time, United States military forces captured Saddam Hussein alive. He was found near a farmhouse outside the city of Tikrit, in a swift raid conducted without casualties. And now the former dictator of Iraq will face the justice he denied to millions.

The capture of this man was crucial to the rise of a free Iraq. It marks the end of the road for him, and for all who bullied and killed in his name. For the Baathist holdouts largely responsible for the current violence, there will be no return to the corrupt power and privilege they once held. For the vast majority of Iraqi citizens who wish to live as free men and women, this event brings further assurance that the torture chambers and the secret police are gone forever.

And this afternoon, I have a message for the Iraqi people: You will not have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein ever again. All Iraqis who take the side of freedom have taken the winning side. The goals of our coalition are the same as your goals -- sovereignty for your country, dignity for your great culture, and for every Iraqi citizen, the opportunity for a better life.

In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over. A hopeful day has arrived. All Iraqis can now come together and reject violence and build a new Iraq.

The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq. The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate them.

I also have a message for all Americans: The capture of Saddam Hussein does not mean the end of violence in Iraq. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the heart of the Middle East. Such men are a direct threat to the American people, and they will be defeated.

We've come to this moment through patience and resolve and focused action. And that is our strategy moving forward. The war on terror is a different kind of war, waged capture by capture, cell by cell, and victory by victory. Our security is assured by our perseverance and by our sure belief in the success of liberty. And the United States of America will not relent until this war is won.

May God bless the people of Iraq, and may God bless America. Thank you.

As, blaster has already posted, and as hopefully everyone knows, we got Saddam.

Few thoughts.

1) He doesn't look like he has been leading a rebellion. He look like a scared old man. I wonder if he has nothing to do with the terrorist attacks?

2) Just from first impressions, I wonder if people are going to be reminded of the banality of evil

3) Why is anyone surprised by the media coverage? It only took 10 minutes of CNN and MSNBC to confirm what I knew they would do. They're not happy about this.

4) Howard Dean "Statement by Governor Dean on the Capture of Saddam Hussein
WEST PALM BEACH-- Governor Dean issued the following statement this morning:

"This is a great day for the Iraqi people, the US, and the international community.

"Our troops are to be congratulated on carrying out this mission with the skill and dedication we have come to know of them.

"This development provides an enormous opportunity to set a new course and take the American label off the war. We must do everything possible to bring the UN, NATO, and other members of the international community back into this effort.

"Now that the dictator is captured, we must also accelerate the transition from occupation to full Iraqi sovereignty."

I still don't see the danger of America voting for this guy. He is an asshole, and 60% of America knows it.

P.S. I don't think the Gore endorsement helped either.

5) I would do a Kerry quote, but that man is done. Should make my blogmate happy when he goes since blaster has a particular love for the man. See below.

If I were a Democrat presidential candidate, I wouldn't be trying to horn in on today's news. Especially if I were going to carp about how this is an "opportunity to get it right" and turn this over to the UN. Like they would have been able to catch him.

In other news, we are having celebratory "We captured Saddam Hussein" pancakes with Reese's peanut butter chips.

UPDATE: OH MY GOD! Kerry just said Bush should have followed in Clinton's footsteps on North Korea! Just shut up.

Dug him out of his hidey hole. Literally.