BUT I WANT MY WAR NOW!

Iraq agreed in principle to destroy their Al Samoud Missiles, which have a range beyond that prescribed by the UN.

This was one of the things about which Saddam was being very coy and cryptic in the Dan Rather interview earlier this week. Could this be some sort of psychological lesson here for those who want to better understand Saddam? On day A, he's coy, but on say, day D, he aquiesces.

My analysis? This seems to satisfy what might be called the "just enough" theory of conflict resolution/deferment. Given the parameters of the situation, combined with personal desires for strength and integrity, Saddam has a dual aim: 1) to avoid war, and 2) to do so by straying as close to the edge as possible without falling off.

I'd expect any world leader in his position to do that. Heck, even Bush. This was a point I made in my post late last night on the Saddam interview (a point either missed, or passed upon in favor of a strawman by one passing reader). The fact that Saddam "gassed his own people" or executed family members is irrelevant to this point.

Anyway, every so often Bush gives us a line like "We know what a disarming country looks like, and this isn't it". Today's events are a preliminary good step, no doubt, but if more likewise steps are taken, perhaps his line may need to be revised.

One more controversial sidebar!: When Rather brought up Vice President Richard Cheney, I was waiting for Saddam to cut in with "ah yes, my old business partner, how the hell is that ol' sonuvabitch doing?" :-)