As US forces yesterday began the first stages of an invasion of Iraq, the White House has warned the American public to be prepared for a loss of life among American service personnel, Conor O'Clery, in New York
President George Bush sent a legal document to Capitol Hill yesterday morning invoking his authority to pursue military action against Iraq granted by Congress last October. He also spent time finalising an address to the nation from the Oval Office, announcing that he had sent US forces into a war against Iraq.
The Pentagon announced yesterday that US war planes had struck at 10 Iraqi artillery pieces near Basra in a final act of "softening up" Iraqi defences before massed US forces crossed the Iraq/Kuwait border in a drive for Baghdad.
The US Department of Defence also stated that 17 Iraqi soldiers had surrendered on the border with Kuwait before fighting began and had been handed over to Kuwaiti custody.
The US has encouraged defections by dropping two million leaflets over Iraq. "This is not your war. This is not your regime. Do not follow the orders of this regime," said White House press secretary Ari Fleischer in remarks directed to Iraqi soldiers.
Americans have been led to expect a war much shorter in duration than the Gulf War, which lasted for six weeks, and are preparing for a television spectacle lasting a few days.
However, the Bush administration sought to dampen speculation that it could be all over by the weekend, as some military observers have forecast.
"On the brink of war with Iraq, Americans should be prepared for what we hope will be as precise, short a conflict as possible," Mr Fleischer said. There were nevertheless "many unknowns and it could be a matter of some duration, we do not know".
Speaking just seven hours before President Bush's ultimatum to Saddam Hussein expired last night, Mr Fleischer warned: "Americans ought to be prepared for loss of life. Americans ought to be prepared for the importance of disarming Saddam Hussein to protect the peace."
Mr Bush has spoken in general terms of sacrifices in disarming Saddam Hussein, but before yesterday had not specifically addressed the nation on possible casualties. The White House also has yet to detail the expected cost of the invasion, which could run to $100 billion.
The president sent Congress formal notification of justification for war in a three-paragraph document which stated that diplomacy had failed to protect America's security and linked the Iraqi regime with al-Qaeda, the organisation believed responsible for the September 11th 2001 attacks on the United States.
On October 10th, Congress approved a resolution granting Mr Bush the authority to bring about regime-change in Iraq by force and to bring about the disarmament of any weapons of mass destruction.
"The President of the United States has the authority - indeed, given the dangers involved, the duty - to use force against Iraq to protect the security of the American people and to compel compliance with United Nations resolutions," Mr Bush's message to Capitol Hill stated.
Mr Bush's war council convened at the White House to finalise plans as the deadline for Saddam to leave Iraq neared. In his ultimatum delivered at 8 p.m. on Monday (1 a.m. Tuesday Irish time) the president said that "Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq in 48 hours" and "their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing".
Mr Bush also met New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to discuss security measures in the city, thought the most vulnerable to another terrorist attack.
"The president has listened and he has made his decision, and I know all New Yorkers are behind him and the troops overseas," Mr Bloomberg said. "He's not going to be cowed or dissuaded. He's going to go out there and do what we all pray is right."