Paul Krugman: Aboard the U.S.S. Caine, it was the business with the strawberries that finally convinced the doubters that something was amiss with the captain. Is foreign policy George W. Bush’s quart of strawberries?

Over the past few weeks there has been an epidemic of epiphanies. There’s a long list of pundits who previously supported Bush’s policy on Iraq but have publicly changed their minds. None of them quarrel with the goal; who wouldn’t want to see Saddam Hussein overthrown? But they are finally realizing that Mr. Bush is the wrong man to do the job. And more people than you would think. NY Times op-ed

There are a lot worse things in country music than your wife leaving you or your dog dying. There’s stations not playing your music because you done gone and said some things against the president. CNN

With a force only one-third the size of the one that liberated Kuwait 12 years ago, U.S. commanders poised to attack Iraq have been given a far more ambitious mission: March hundreds of miles to Baghdad, neutralize the Iraqi military, overthrow President Saddam Hussein and then prevent a country the size of California from disintegrating into chaos.

(…)

The aspects of the operation that most worry planners here, and Pentagon insiders and experts in the United States, are the emphasis on lightning, simultaneous operations that could result in “friendly fire” incidents; the dependence on a 350-mile supply line; and the heavy reliance on Special Operations troops behind enemy lines. Overhanging the entire operation is the prospect that Iraq could use chemical or biological weapons. The other major fear is that U.S. forces could be bogged down in an urban battle that could turn Baghdad into a modern Stalingrad — a possibility that has resulted in some troops here being issued battle axes and battering rams. Washington Post

During the past week, WHO has received reports of more than 150 new suspected cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), an atypical pneumonia for which cause has not yet been determined. Reports to date have been received from Canada, China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Early today, an ill passenger and companions who travelled from New York, United States, and who landed in Frankfurt, Germany were removed from their flight and taken to hospital isolation…

There is presently no recommendation for people to restrict travel to any destination. However in response to enquiries from governments, airlines, physicians and travellers, WHO is now offering guidance for travellers, airline crew and airlines.

US policy could threaten international trade, aides warn: “In a break from years of unwavering public faith in the United States, top officials at the World Trade Organization are worried that the Bush administration’s go-it-alone policy is threatening international trade.

In the normally closed, clubby world of the WTO, envoys and officials said they feared that American moves within the organization and toward a war in Iraq would weaken respect for international rules and lead to serious practical consequence for the world economy and business.” IHT

“A classified State Department report expresses doubt that installing a new regime in Iraq will foster the spread of democracy in the Middle East, a claim President Bush has made in trying to build support for a war, according to intelligence officials familiar with the document.” LA Times

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Sent from a friend: “What with all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment,

it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person who left us

almost unnoticed last week: Larry La Prise, the man who wrote “The Hokey

Pokey”, who died peacefully at age 93. The most traumatic part for his

family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in, and then

the trouble started.” [thanks, Abby!]

Bring Them Home Now! “Bring Them Home Now is a network of concerned Americans who wish to protect our men and women in uniform. We believe that the proposed war on Iraq is unnecessary and immoral. Under such circumstances the only way to be pro-soldier is to be anti-war.”

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How to talk to your children about the Elizabeth Smart case