WASHINGTON, March 19 AFP - Text of speech by US President George
W Bush tonight announcing the start of war against Iraq:

"My fellow citizens, at this hour American and coalition forces
are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to
free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.
"On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected
targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein's
ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a
broad and concerted campaign.
"More than 35 countries are giving crucial support, from the use
of naval and air bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to
the deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition has
chosen to bear the duty and share the honour of serving in our
common defence.
"To all of the men and women of the United States armed forces
now in the Middle East, the peace of a troubled world and the hopes
of an oppressed people now depend on you.
"That trust is well placed.
"The enemies you confront will come to know your skill and
bravery. The people you liberate will witness the honourable and
decent spirit of the American military.
"In this conflict, America faces an enemy who has no regard for
conventions of war or rules of morality. Saddam Hussein has placed
Iraqi troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use
innocent men, women and children as shields for his own military; a
final atrocity against his people.
"I want Americans and all the world to know that coalition
forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from
harm. A campaign on the harsh terrain of a nation as large as
California could be longer and more difficult than some predict.
And helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable and free country will
require our sustained commitment.
"We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great
civilization and for the religious faiths they practice. We have no
ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of
that country to its own people.
"I know that the families of our military are praying that all
those who serve will return safely and soon.
"Millions of Americans are praying with you for the safety of
your loved ones and for the protection of the innocent.
"For your sacrifice, you have the gratitude and respect of the
American people and you can know that our forces will be coming
home as soon as their work is done.
"Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly, yet our purpose is
sure. The people of the United States and our friends and allies
will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the
peace with weapons of mass murder.
"We will meet that threat now with our Army, Air Force, Navy,
Coast Guard and Marines, so that we do not have to meet it later
with armies of firefighters and police and doctors on the streets
of our cities.
"Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration
is to apply decisive force. And I assure you, this will not be a
campaign of half measures and we will accept no outcome but
victory.
"My fellow citizens, the dangers to our country and the world
will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril and carry
on the work of peace. We will defend our freedom. We will bring
freedom to others. And we will prevail.
"May God bless our country and all who defend her."
AFP

WASHINGTON - The White House said the attack on Iraq had
begun. President Bush is to go on television at 0315 GMT, his
spokesman said.
BAGHDAD - A handful of explosions rocked Baghdad at dawn as
jets roared overhead, Iraqi anti-aircraft batteries opened up and
air raid sirens sounded.
UNITED NATIONS - France and Germany said it was illegal for
the Bush administration to depose Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
and Russia said there was no proof Iraq posed a threat to the
United States.
UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the
United States it was responsible for protecting Iraqi civilians
in war but said the United Nations should get ready to help soon.
- - - -
LONDON - Britain issued a global terror threat alert as its
troops stood poised with U.S. forces on the Iraqi border for the
signal to strike north towards Baghdad.
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian police have found four tonnes of
ammonia nitrate, an explosive fertiliser material favoured by
truck bombers, in the southern state of Johor bordering
Singapore, the Star newspaper said.
- - - -
SINGAPORE - Oil prices skidded, the dollar climbed and stocks
ticked higher as investors bet a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq would
be quick and decisive but were wary about possible acts of
terror.
- - - -
WASHINGTON - Dozens of people were arrested when hundreds
marched in cities across the United States to protest over the
looming U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
- - - -
MIAMI - A Cuban DC-3 airliner carrying 35 people landed in
Key West, Florida after a possible hijack, the U.S. Federal
Aviation Administration said.
- - - -
WASHINGTON - Doctors said they were homing in on a possible
cause and source of a mysterious global outbreak of pneumonia,
naming a family of viruses responsible for everyday measles and
more exotic diseases such as Nipah virus.
- - - -
WASHINGTON - The United States plans to provide Israel with
$10 billion in grants and loan guarantees as part of a massive
war budget which President Bush will send to Congress soon after
any military action is taken against Iraq, U.S. and Israeli
officials said.
- - - -
RAMALLAH, West Bank - Prominent Palestinian moderate Mahmoud
Abbas accepted his appointment by Yasser Arafat as the
Palestinians' first prime minister to implement key reforms, a
close aide to Arafat said.
- - - -
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate narrowly voted against opening
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, defeating
the centrepiece of President Bush's energy policy.
OTTAWA - The Canadian government welcomed the U.S. Senate
vote that rejected drilling for oil in an Arctic wildlife refuge
near its borders, an idea that Ottawa has consistently and loudly
opposed.
- - - -
DALLAS, Texas - Texans firmly back the death penalty, but as
the state nears the sombre milestone on Thursday of its 300th
execution since resuming capital punishment 21 years ago,
questions are arising about a process some believe is deeply
flawed.
- - - -
BOGOTA - More than 300,000 children work as domestic servants
in Colombia, most for more than 48 hours a week and for less than
the country's $112 monthly minimum wage, the International Labor
Organisation said.
- - - -
HAVANA - The United States said it was outraged that Cuba had
arrested dozens of U.S.-backed dissidents in a crackdown on what
the island's communist government sees as increasing American
interference.
- - - -
LONDON - Three newly discovered drawings by master British
landscape artist John Constable fetched over 350,000 pounds
($545,000) in London, auction house Sotheby's said.
- - - -
LOS ANGELES - After two weeks of contract wrangling, HBO
finally made actor James Gandolfini an offer he couldn't refuse
to appear as mob boss Tony Soprano for a fifth season on the hit
show "The Sopranos," spokesmen for both sides said.
- - - -

I can only tell you of the perils of what was shown and yes, as we walked he spoke of the seeds of hatred and death, ingratitude, discouragement, despair and anger. ” I listened to his voice, it had a strange accent, a beautiful simplicity and a power within it, it held a radiance of truth. He spoke of lessons to be learned that currently bear directly upon our time and our society. He did not wish anything or judge anything it was just shown to me as we trod the three paths, which lead to life, death and peace. I saw the destiny of ourselves raised upon these paths. I watched the suffering, the agony and the iniquities that lie ahead in the tissues of mankind’s history. I asked him the question “to what purpose do you show me this” and he replied “so many centuries lead to this. I know whence I come and I know where I go as you will do”. The path currently being trod portrayed the coming war. I heard the cries, the groaning of humanity and felt the agony. Real force and real action will not lay the foundation for peace but create an illusion built on an edifice of sand. We are passing through a time of grave crisis, a time we cannot escape for we have already selected our path.

What was seen was only visible to myself. Do I take what was seen as an act of faith? There is no way that I can prove what happened to me. I grasped something invisible. I feel my description is miserable. There are things which cannot be fully expressed! I feel my words are powerless; my impressions inadequate. How can I explain the unknown to you? It leaves within myself an ironical echo ….

He spoke in parables, of locusts and fireballs. Burning fires and dark clouds of hate. There is no doubt that the Americans will win the war but they will not win lasting peace. What will be won will eventually crack and shatter which will lead to further conflict in the region. The threat of the Middle East is nothing compared to the other menace foreseen. So much of life will be destroyed, so much will be rebuilt, as man himself will be rebuilt. How strange to walk by his side and see through his eyes. Two ghosts passing through the present and the future. He foreshadowed the encroaching darkness and revealed my path - a sanctuary yet to be found.

There is no doubt that Israel can be struck helpless and impotent by a small cadre of dedicated men and women with a single-minded passion - the suicide bombers. To die in such a way is seen as an honour bestowed on only a few fortunate men and women - they are an elite group - whose heads are filled with false theories. They no longer heed reason nor justice, but only the power of their own beliefs. It’s hard, almost impossible, for us to understand. They are convinced that this is the only way forward. They kill because they hate. Those involved are beyond reason or for that matter, rationality. It is, and always will be a horrifying reality, which can happen at any time for Israel.

The Israelis believe the only way to handle it is to destroy every terrorist stronghold known and suspected. Such action is bound to breed further violence and the prospect is for more terror and further counter terror. Too many have become disciplined to pain, indifferent to bloodshed and prepared to die. The Israelis provoke the very thing they wish to avoid. Such action does not put an end to the threat, it won’t stop those involved - they are capable of continued violence. The Israelis are in an untenable position: if they catch or kill those responsible others re-emerge.

I recall the story of the Prophet who defeated superior enemies because he had Allah's support. If I recall correctly, I believe he said "There can be no happiness but that preceded by misery, no peace but that preceded by war". Such words, if anything, explain the ongoing crisis. Religious fanaticism is chillingly evident in the ongoing suicide bombings. They will not end and it is my continued belief that events will continue to spiral out of control and take an even more violent turn.

The United States is conducting a secret "dirty tricks" plan against other UN Security Council delegations. Details of the aggressive surveillance operation are revealed in the document below.

Does the dirty tricks plan - along with US pressure and inducements to other Security Council members - mean that any vote for war would lack legitimacy? Or are these murky details about international politics simply the way of the world? Now that the plan has been revealed, will it backfire as the US seeks to win the UN waverers over?

March 2, 2003

To: [Recipients withheld]
From: FRANK KOZA, DEF Chief of Staff (Regional Targets)
CIV/NSA
Sent on Jan 31 2003 0:16
Subject: Reflections of Iraq Debate/Votes at UN-RT Actions + Potential for Related Contributions
Importance: HIGH
Top Secret//COMINT//XI
All,
As you've likely heard by now, the Agency is mounting a surge particularly directed at the UN Security Council (UNSC) members (minus US and GBR of course) for insights as to how to membership is reacting to the on-going debate RE: Iraq, plans to vote on any related resolutions, what related policies/ negotiating positions they may be considering, alliances/ dependencies, etc - the whole gamut of information that could give US policymakers an edge in obtaining results favorable to US goals or to head off surprises. In RT, that means a QRC surge effort to revive/ create efforts against UNSC members Angola, Cameroon, Chile, Bulgaria and Guinea, as well as extra focus on Pakistan UN matters.
We've also asked ALL RT topi's to emphasize and make sure they pay attention to existing non-UNSC member UN-related and domestic comms for anything useful related to the UNSC deliberations/ debates/ votes. We have a lot of special UN-related diplomatic coverage (various UN delegations) from countries not sitting on the UNSC right now that could contribute related perspectives/ insights/ whatever. We recognize that we can't afford to ignore this possible source.
We'd appreciate your support in getting the word to your analysts who might have similar, more in-direct access to valuable information from accesses in your product lines. I suspect that you'll be hearing more along these lines in formal channels - especially as this effort will probably peak (at least for this specific focus) in the middle of next week, following the SecState's presentation to the UNSC.
Thanks for your help