Final Word from Tuesday, March 18, 2003
George W. Bush said that Saddam Hussein and his sons have 48 hours to leave Iraq or that a broad coalition will take military action. Americans are worried about why more countries aren't with the U.S., and commentators say Bush stressed the "broad coalition" to comfort them. Bush is apparently including the CR in the coalition, although the view in Prague is different. The CR's security council refused to take a stance on the war until the conflict begins. Commentators have criticized President Václav Klaus for interfering in everyday political affairs by asking if future Industry Minister Milan Urban speaks a foreign language, but Klaus' influence regarding Iraq is far more significant. He's urging the cabinet to back away from its pro-American stance and is using opinion polls - the importance of which he has otherwise always downplayed - to back up his argument.