U.S. Pilots Prepare to Bomb
Wednesday, December 16, 1998 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Taking advantage of Ramadan celebrations, President Clinton has decided to go after Saddam with everything he has later this afternoon. The stage has been set for over 24 hours, but the press missed the withdrawal of United Nations personnel from Iraq -- or were told to miss it on background.

But the story broke anyway.

Watch for the Republican right wing to say the President is bombing today because he wants to take the focus off the impending impeachment vote on Thursday or Friday, claiming a "Wag the Dog" scenario. But stop and think. Logic would dictate that this is the last thing the White House wants. The demonstrations on Capitol Hill by Democrats and supporters of the President will be held tomorrow as well -- and will get less coverage due to Iraq, perhaps no coverage at all.

Keep in mind that President Clinton has discussed the attack with Republican leadership and they have approved the move. In fact, the Ramadan attack has been planned for quite some time.

Ground zero
We can tell you that activity was high at 1600 Pennsylvania long into the night. Key foreign policy advisors were on their cell phones -- even during dinner at fashionable Georgetown eateries where they shoveled down their steaks and headed back to the White House and the Pentagon. This reporter was a first-hand observer to scootings in and hustlings out at two Washington waterholes, but the Iraq attack was nevertheless kept very well under wraps even so!

The final decision has not been made as of this writing (1:05 PM EST), but the word is "ready to go" for the Ramadan Surprise. Iraqis are reportedly fleeing Baghdad and Saddam has secreted himself in a tent somewhere in the desert until things quiet down.

You can be sure that the impeachment debate will be cancelled if we strike Iraq tonight, but Republican leaders -- the real ones -- are convinced this is not a December Surprise aimed at hijacking the impeachment. The word is that the President is geared up to fight to hypocrite right-wingers in Congress, and will make mincemeat of them at the appropriate time.

And you can also be sure that President Clinton got Saddam's ear when, during a news conference held just before 1:00 PM EST, a reporter's question to State Department spokesman James Rubin concerning whether any action would be taken this afternoon was answered with a two-word reply:

"Stay tuned."

-- Developing -

-- Mac MacArthur