White House prepares US for war dead

The White House tonight delivered a grim message to the American public.

“On the brink of war with Iraq, Americans should be prepared for what we hope will be as precise, short a conflict as possible, but there are many unknowns and it could be a matter of some duration,” spokesman Ari Fleischer said. “We do not know.”

“Americans ought to be prepared for loss of life,” he said. “Americans ought to be prepared for the importance of disarming Saddam Hussein to protect the peace.”

The White House had no public plans to mark the 0100GMT Thursday deadline for Saddam to flee.

Aides said war wouldn’t automatically start the moment the deadline expires but that Bush would rely on the advice of his military commanders.

Referring to Bush’s demand that the Iraqi leader trade power for exile or face a US-led invasion, Fleischer said: “We have not received any indications, unfortunately, from Saddam Hussein that he intends to leave the country.”

“At 8 o’clock tonight (1am Irish time Thursday) the American people will know whether Saddam Hussein has committed his final act of defiance,” he added.

In the event of war, Bush would address the nation from the Oval Office, Fleischer said. White House speechwriters have been working on the speech for several days, aides said.