Wednesday February 13 7:06 AM ET

Report: Bush Decides to Oust Saddam Hussein

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) has decided to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), and has ordered the CIA (news - web sites), the Pentagon (news - web sites) and other U.S. agencies to devise plans to remove him, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said no military strike was imminent. But it quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying Bush had decided that Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs pose too great a threat to U.S. national security for Saddam to remain.

``This is not an argument about whether to get rid of Saddam Hussein. That debate is over. This is how you do it,'' the Inquirer quoted a senior Bush administration official as saying.

The newspaper said the White House was determined to act even if U.S. allies do not help, and is now waiting for government agencies to come up with a combination of military, diplomatic and covert plans aimed at achieving Saddam's ouster.

Escalating U.S. rhetoric on Iraq has alarmed Russia and America's European allies in recent weeks, while causing concern among experts about the political and human costs of a lengthy U.S. military campaign in the Middle East.

But the Inquirer said the CIA recently presented Bush with a plan to destabilize Saddam's well-entrenched regime in Baghdad, through a massive covert action campaign, sabotage, information warfare and significantly more aggressive bombing of the so-called no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq.

The president was reportedly enthusiastic, and although it could not be determined whether he gave final approval for the plan, the CIA has begun assigning officers to the task, the newspaper reported.

Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) is also expected to tell Middle East leaders about U.S. intentions to get rid of Saddam during a tour of 11 Middle Eastern nations next month, the Inquirer said.

``He's not going to beg for support,'' a senior official was quoted as saying. ``He's going to inform them that the president's decision has been made and will be carried out, and if they want some input into how and when it's carried out, now's the time for them to speak up.''

-- Wag the Dog, "big time" (forget @ about. Cheneygate), February 13, 2002

Answers

This is the beginning of the end for the United States.

-- (make your peace now @ time. is short), February 13, 2002.

We welcome President Bush's intention to ouster the megalomaniacal, sociopathic mass-murderer Saddam Hussein who has poison-gassed the Kurdish people. However, the US has sold us out before. We await real action.

-- (Kurdish Liberation Front@attack.Iraq), February 13, 2002.

Is this a declaration of war, or just another terrorist attack by the U.S.? Once again, the idiot Dumbya proves that America is the ultimate aggressor, attacking another country which has done no harm to the United States. His true motivation is only greed, as he attempts to gain control over the oil in the Middle East. Unfortunately for innocent Americans, there will be a big price to pay.

-- Osama Yo Mama (we're@gonna.getya), February 13, 2002.

It's time. Been time for awhile. Mad Dog Dubya is on the loose and has the most violent western society squarely behind him. Eventually the grey of appeasement fades beneath the red of blood and shit happens. Viva FDNY!

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), February 14, 2002.

WAR WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR?

ABSOLUTLY NOTHING

-- Cherri (jessam5@home.com), February 14, 2002.

War gives the armchair warriors something to concentrate on, Cherri, while MY son is sent to fight the wars they never have, and never will.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), February 14, 2002.

Can we vote ourselves out of the war?

-- helen (or@is.too.late?), February 14, 2002.

You're forgetting Helen, Dubya does not believe in votes. He is a dictator and "he decided" we are going to attack.

-- make no mistake about it (it's settled @ not open. for debate), February 14, 2002.

We can vote ourselves out helen but let wait until OK City loses a few thousand folks. Never liked them NY types myself.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), February 16, 2002.

What if they gave a war and only one side showed up?

-- (Roland@hatemail.com), February 16, 2002.

Slaughter & submission. Been a bunch of those over the ages.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), February 17, 2002.