Now that the President of The United States of America has given Saddam Hussein and his sons an ultimatum, a fearful world waits and watches to see what will happen next.
The new information delivered last evening noted that: “President Bush delivered an ultimatum Monday night to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein: Choose between exile or war – and decide by 8 p.m. EST Wednesday.
“Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours,” Bush said during a prime-time address to the nation. “Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing.”
Iraqi officials said Hussein would not leave. “He will stay in place like a solid rock,” Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf told the television service Al Jazerra.
As Bush spoke, federal authorities elevated the terror threat level to high (orange) from elevated (yellow) and announced an enhanced security program they called Operation Liberty Shield.
Bush warned, as he has in the past, that the nation’s foes have the ability to strike the United States repeatedly and painfully.
“Should enemies strike our country, they would be attempting to shift our attention with panic and weaken our morale with fear,” he said during the 13-minute speech from the White House. “In this, they would fail.
“We are a peaceful people, yet we are not a fragile people. And we will not be intimidated by thugs and killers. If our enemies dare to strike us, they and all who have aided them will face fearful consequences,” said Mr. Bush.
What these fearful consequences are is anyone’s guess. For our part, with nothing left but our faith in the inherent goodness of humanity, we are certain that in the fullness of time this season of dread will end and that peace will prevail.
Editorial, The Bahama Journal
