Yesterday we reported that intelligence analyst George Friedman predicted the war with Iraq could begin as soon as this weekend:

On timing, Friedman says an attack is probably imminent. This weekend offers a moonless night over Iraq's desert sands. U.S. Gen. Tommy Franks, who will have responsibility for an invasion of Iraq, arrived at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar earlier in the week.

"This is the best weekend militarily to do it," Friedman says. "There is no moon, and if you ever have been on the desert in special operations, you know you don't want a moon when you need to take bridges and other strategic posts.

The signs of impending military action are coming closer and closer together:

Bush spoke last night about a post-Saddam Iraq and Middle East:

Looking beyond hostilities to topple Saddam Hussein — an outcome administration officials have increasingly portrayed as inevitable — Bush also sought to assure doubters across the globe that the ultimate U.S. goals in the region are not imperialist but democratic.

"Success in Iraq could begin a new stage for Middle Eastern peace, and set in motion progress towards a truly democratic Palestinian state," he said. "The passing of Saddam Hussein's regime will deprive terrorist networks of a wealthy patron that pays for terrorist training, and offers rewards to families of suicide bombers. And other regimes will be given a clear warning that support for terror will not be tolerated."

the speech was the first time he offered a comprehensive picture of a post-Hussein Iraq. Officials said the speech's purpose was to assure angry Arabs and skeptical Europeans that Bush does not seek conquest.

While linking Hussein's ouster to a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians and pledging his "personal commitment" to reach such a peace, Bush also presented a neo-Wilsonian view of the imperative to spread liberty and democracy in the world, challenging a panoply of experts and diplomats who say a U.S. attack would foster instability and backlash. [Washington Post]

The Security Council is coming around:

A senior Russian envoy predicted that his country would not veto a Security Council resolution, offered this week by the United States, Britain and Spain, that would clear the way toward war. The Russian move could boost prospects for U.N. support and weaken France's opposition campaign.

The media, sniffing action right around the corner, is now giving time to the anti-war side:

We were mildly surprised to tune in to "Face the Nation" the other day and see as the lead guests two antiwar activists, Susan Sarandon and Mike Farrell.

Yes, they are good-looking Hollywood celebs, and yes, they were paired with a pro-war guest, National Review's Rich Lowry. But suddenly, instead of Colin Powell or Condoleezza Rice making the case for taking out Saddam, viewers were hearing a serious argument about why Iraq can be contained without war. The same morning, on "Fox News Sunday," Janeane Garofalo was making her antiwar pitch to Tony Snow.

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