George Bush has effectively just declared war on Iraq via a globally broadcast news conference.

"These are the last stages of diplomacy," he said. "[Saddam] possesses weapons of terror, he provides funding and training and safe haven to terrorists, terrorists who would willingly use weapons of mass destruction against America and other peace loving countries."

"I will not leave the American people at the mercy of the Iraqi dictator and his weapons," Bush said.

A de facto declaration of war in the name of peace from a man who knows the world is not with him. Political grandstanding on the eve of the UN report that will force the hand of a simple man who believes in the power of brute force over everything else - dark days indeed.