"War, war, war; this war talk's spoiling all the fun at every party this spring.

If either of you boys says 'war' just once again, I'll go in the house and slam the door."
.............................Scarlett O'Hara, U.S. Senator (D-Georgia)

Iraq Edges Closer to Open Civil Warfare

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi authorities discovered at least 87 corpses — men shot to death execution-style — as Iraq edged closer to open civil warfare. Twenty-nine of the bodies, dressed only in underwear, were dug out of a single grave Tuesday in a Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad.

Some of the bloodshed appeared to be retaliation for a bomb and mortar attack in the Sadr City slum that killed at least 58 people and wounded more than 200 two days earlier.

I have already fallen behind on this latest web venture. I haven't even left Dublin, Valentines Weekend 2003 and San Francisco Saint Patrick's Week 2003 is right upon us!



And the Almanac of Iraqi History reminds me that I've nearly missed one of the third anniversary milestones:

US may go it alone as Blair is caught in diplomatic deadlock

Washington was forced to admit for the first time last night that it might have to start the war against Iraq without British forces because of the internal political problems heaping up for Tony Blair.

The US defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, said that Mr Blair's difficulties had caused the White House to contemplate going to war without its closest ally.

After talks with his British counterpart, Geoff Hoon, Mr Rumsfeld said that the British role in an assault was now "unclear" and that Washington was well aware that the Blair government's freedom of action might be restrained by a rebellious parliament.

More at the link.

Stuart Tarleton: Oh, isn't it exciting, Scarlett? You know those fool Yanks may actually *want* a war?