On February 18, 2001, U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair said, regarding the potential for military action in Iraq: ” ‘Operations such as the one last night [U.S. and British air strikes against radar installations and antiaircraft sites near Baghdad, Iraq] would not be needed if Saddam stopped attacking us,’ …’But as long as he does, I will continue to take the steps necessary to protect our forces and to prevent Saddam from once again wreaking havoc, suffering and death.’ ”
– Michael R. Gordon, “A Decade Beyond the Gulf War,” The New York Times, Feb. 18, 2001