U.S. officials: Delaying Iraqi
strike has benefits
Aides said Bush sticking to usual
routine
From John King
CNN Washington
Bureau
WASHINGTON (CNN) --Senior U.S. officials said that while war with
Iraq could begin as early as Wednesday night, President Bush could find a
"tactical advantage" in waiting before ordering an
assault.
In a Monday night speech to the
nation, Bush demanded that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his sons
give up power and go into exile by 8 p.m. EST Wednesday -- 4 a.m. Thursday
in Baghdad.
Bush will meet with his national
security team Wednesday and consult with British Prime Minister Tony Blair
by phone.
A National Security Council meeting
was scheduled for Wednesday morning, and Bush also planned a separate
session with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, according to a senior
official.
Bush will hear the latest on military
preparations and an assessment of weather and other conditions that could
factor into a decision on when to go to war.
The senior official said that "it
obviously is no surprise to anyone that a strike is coming" and that
beyond an evaluation of weather and other field conditions, it could be in
the U.S. interest "to leave them staring at the sky for a little
bit."
Another official said Bush
deliberately chose the words that the United States will attack "at a time
of its choosing." The official characterized the looming deadline as a
political one for Saddam that opened the door to military action "but is
not in and of itself a determining factor in when we go."
Bush's schedule also included plans
for a White House meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to discuss preparations for possible
terrorist strikes in the United States.
Aides said it is unlikely that Bush
will speak publicly until after he makes his decision to launch a military
offensive, an announcement that would be made in an Oval Office
address.
In the meantime, these aides said
Bush is trying to stick close to his usual routine, with a busy schedule
of private meetings and telephone consultations, including a daily break
for a workout. | 