As I begin typing this not all that long after Noon, Eastern Standard Time [1700 GMT, 8 PM Iraqi & Kuwaiti Time] on Thursday 20 March 2003, the news is breaking that the Ground War- that is, the main offensive of the war against Iraq- is now already underway. Given this fact, I think at least a few words [and there are many of you out there reading this who, so I am sure given e-mails I have received, have long been looking for "few words"- for once!- from me :)] are now in order:

There has been quite the spirited debate on this web site- principally via reaction to my Commentaries by various and sundry 'vox Populi'ers over the last several weeks, where not months - about whether or not there should even be an American-led war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq. In my opinion, the time for debating this issue is now over: war has, indeed, come and any opposition to- or support of- this specific war per se has, thereby, become rather moot; this, however, does not mean that those of you reading this who might want to comment- positively or negatively- on aspects of this war- as it progresses- via 'vox Populi' sent to my e-mail address as seen at the bottom of this Commentary are no longer welcome to do so: it does mean, however, that this commentator will- from here on out- principally turn to issues related to the aftermath of this war and the political prospects within a post-Saddam Iraq.

I want to close this mercifully short Commentary with merely saying that- regardless of where any American reading this might happen to stand re: the issue of this war- I hope and trust that all my fellow countrymen will join me in giving all due thoughts and prayers for the safety and well-being of all the young men and women in the U.S. Military who will have to carry out the vast majority of the missions associated with this war. In a sense, all we Americans- if only in spirit- join them in their march, as much a march toward an uncertain future as regards the geopolitics of the Middle East with all its concomitant effects on the foreign policy- if not also the domestic security- of the United States, as it is a military offensive.