Iraq - The Truth Begins To Leak Out

It's very disappointing that a Spanish newspaper is publishing this while U.S. media is busy still speculating about Britney Spears' underpants or lack thereof, or whatever the topic of the week is.

Via Raw Story comes the report that Bush had made up his mind to invade Iraq in February of 2003, regardless of U.N. authorization, and threatened other nations who did not agree with his unilateral position.

Bush also threatened nations with retaliation if they did not vote for a UN resolution backing the Iraq war, according to the transcript. Nations like Mexico, Angola, Chile and Cameroon must know that the security of the United States is at stake, the president tells Aznar.

The [Spanish newspaper]* El Pais reported that Bush threatened to pull financial aid from Angola and warned that a free-trade agreement with Chile might be delayed in the Senate if they did not back another UN resolution.

What a bully and a lout. He doesn't understand diplomacy, tact, charm, any of those things. Bluster, swagger, and braggadocio are more his metier.

Well, it appears his bluster and swagger were insufficient to bind Iceland to the Coalition of the (Somewhat Un)willing any longer. Iceland Review recently announced that Iceland had withdrawn its sole military contribution to the coalition.

We'll be discreet and say nothing of all the others who have already left. We'll just point out that even the British are leaving. In fact, have left in all but name, already.

* AFP, as is their wont, refer to El Pais as a "leftist" newspaper, but from what I can find, it appears to be the largest Spanish daily paper and is published in association with the IHT, hardly anywhere close to left of center.

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