Tonight on Nightline- Town Meeting @ War w/ Iraq

[Jim]

When war could be just days away, Ted Koppel will host a 90-minute town
meeting tonight on the war in Iraq: WHY NOW? Has the Bush administration
made its case to you? Do you support the U.S. acting without the support
of a new United Nations resolution? Without the support of many of our
longtime allies? Without Turkey as a military staging area? We'll talk
about all of that and more - tonight.

----

The scuttlebutt around Washington these days is that war is coming
soon....very soon. And a majority of Americans, 6 of 10, support it. But
within that support, which hasn't moved significantly in the last few
weeks, there are many Americans who voice concern for the timing, among
other reservations. Have all other options been exhausted? Will we act
without our allies? Without another U.N. resolution? Have the
consequences of the aftermath of such a war been fully explored and
planned?

Tonight Ted Koppel will host a town meeting before a live audience at St.
John's Episcopal Church on Lafayette Park in Washington DC, directly
across the street from the White House. This is the church that is often
called "the church of the Presidents" because every American president
since James Madison has worshipped there. Surely more than one president
has ducked into this church to offer one more prayer, or seek one more
request for guidance, on the eve of war.

So, in this historic and distinguished setting, we will bring together
diplomatic, political, ethical and military perspectives for a discussion
on the decision to go to war with Iraq. The panelists will include:

- Joseph Wilson, former deputy chief of mission, U.S. Embassy in Baghdad
- James Woolsey, former Director of the C.I.A.
- Senator Carl Levin, Democrat of Michigan
- Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona
- Rev. Richard Land, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the
Southern Baptist Convention
- Rev. Susan Thistelthwaite, Chicago Theological Seminary

If you feel like you missed the debate over this issue in the Congress,
it's because there wasn't much of one - not in recent months, anyway. So,
tonight we have invited every member of Congress to attend the town
meeting, to have the debate that hasn't taken place in its own chambers.
Not surprisingly, only a handful of members accepted our invitation, but
we are glad to have all of them, and will allow some to speak, as they do,
for the Americans they represent.

We will also have a cross-section of Americans in the audience - some who
are concerned that the decision to go to war is coming too quickly, others
who feel that Saddam Hussein has been given ample time to disarm or step
down and refused all alternatives, and still others who haven't made up
their minds yet.

Have you? We hope you'll join us.


Sara Just and the Nightline staff
Senior Producer
ABC News
Washington bureau

... ...

[DA]

ofcourse it will be one sided. more of an anti-bush rally versus anti-war. why is their no march against terrorist? no march again north korea? why cant anyone answer my 1 question, why is the world better off with a saddam with nukes?

[CLC379]

Originally posted by JLB:


WHY NOW?
=====
yep it should have been then.

-----
Has the Bush administration
made its case to you?
=======
yes
------
Do you support the U.S. acting without the support
of a new United Nations resolution? Without the support of many of our
longtime allies? Without Turkey as a military staging area? We'll talk
about all of that and more - tonight.
--------------------

if you were french, would you want someone attacking your employer?

i have read going to war is like going deer hunting with an accordian, not really needed.

i think its more like going deer hunting with an animal lover who spooks deer before you get a shot. un inspectors yeah ummhmm


----

there are many Americans who voice concern for the timing, among
other reservations.
============================

timing?? democrats accused bush of timing war for election now its economy. timing seems to be an easy word dems can remember. if the democrats got off there butts & done something besides stall & play polotics this iraq deal would be history and dems would still hold the majority
=====================


called "the church of the Presidents" because every American president
since James Madison has worshipped there.
==============================

My God did he say church worship? where are the liberals that should be censored.

=============================

If you feel like you missed the debate over this issue in the Congress,
it's because there wasn't much of one - not in recent months, anyway.
=============================

yep think they knew what needed done about 12 years ago.

-----------

Not surprisingly, only a handful of members accepted our invitation,
========================

lol not

--------------

but
we are glad to have all of them, and will allow some to speak,(dems) as they do,
for the communist they represent.

We will also have a cross-section of Americans in the audience -(dems) & (libs) some who
are concerned that the decision to go to war is coming too quickly, others
who (hatebush) and yet others who feel that Saddam Hussein is there god.

We hope you'll join us for this wonderful whine party,
=========


Sara Just and the Nightline stiff
Senior Producer
AlwaysBeenCommunist News
Washington bureau

... ...