On March 17, 2003, President George W. Bush interrupted the primetime programming lineups of all major television networks and a handful of ... all » Cable outlets, to deliver an ultimatum to the ruler of Iraq.

"All the decades of deceit and cruelty have now reached an end," he stated, with an ominous diminution of his usually well-rehearsed Texas twang. "Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict commenced at a time of our choosing." Within 72 hours, major combat operations in a campaign whose objective -- the liberation of an otherwise sovereign nation from the once-useful tyranny of its President -- has met with no resistance from anyone in a position to stop it, commenced.

Today it endures . . . as do us all.

I now mark the fifth anniversary of Pres. Bush's determined resolve to end decades of deceit and cruelty, through the vehicle of a piece entitled 'Hands Across Iraq.' (less info)