Bush Approves Iraq War Plan

Charles Aldinger of Reuters reports that the Iraqi war plans have already been given the go-ahead by the White House.

President Bush has approved a war plan for Iraq to initially capture parts of the country for footholds to thrust in 200,000 or more troops, U.S. officials said on Saturday.

The officials, who asked not to be identified, stressed the plan was flexible but that Bush had in recent weeks accepted Army Gen. Tommy Franks' advice that smaller numbers of troops could not capture and hold Iraq if invasion became necessary.

They confirmed a New York Times report in its Sunday edition that any attack ordered by Bush and led by Franks, head of the U.S. Central Command, would begin with "a rolling start" of smaller numbers of troops while B-1 and B-2 bombers led an air campaign against Saddam's palaces, air defenses and bases.

"Those are the right words -- a rolling start," said one of the officials. "I doubt you would see this all come at once."...

So much for waiting to see how Iraq reacts to the recently passed UN resolution. Forget about giving Iraq a "final chance"; we're already revvin' up our bombers.

Update: CNN reports that the Bush adminstration doesn't think it needs the UN's permission or approval to attack Iraq, while James Hall of the Scotsman elaborates further on the plan to strike Iraq.