Peace Breaks Out!

Tomorrow
Opening my sleepy eyes

Pulling on a robe
Padding across the carpet

Clicking on the coffee machine
Stretching and yawning

Quietly listening to the silence
And the soft burble of the brewing bubbles

Swinging the door wide
Squinting into the morning sunshine

Clouds breaking over the horizon
Breathing in the fresh air

Carefully darting across the lawn
Walking on the balls of my feet

Grabbing the thin plastic bag on the chilly concrete
With the morning paper tucked inside

Hustling back indoors
Closing the door again with a shiver

Shuffling back to the kitchen
Pouring a cup of coffee

Spooning sugar and cream
Stirring the brown to beige

Pulling the paper out of the dewy bag
Unfolding it carefully

Laying it on the table
Reading the headline

:

PEACE BREAKS OUT

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – A massive allied force 250,000 U.S. led troops did not enter Baghdad today as the U.S. led war on Iraq did not begin.

The attack did not come from Kuwait in the south, officials say, with other troops not approaching from the Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Bombardment by allied air forces did not obliterate key sites in Mosul or Kirkuk. The smoke from the burning oil wells did not tower over the Iraqi landscape, and thousands of Iraqi and American lives were not lost.

President Bush believed that military action was not necessary, the White House said yesterday. "While it takes a strong leader to lead in war, it takes an even stronger leader to fight for peace." Bush said in a statement.

"Hussein is responding to diplomacy." White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein complimented Bush and the allies for averting war. "I look forward to a greater understanding between the peoples of the United States and Iraq. We extend a hand of friendship to America." Hussein said in a televised address yesterday.

U.N. inspectors will be granted unfettered access to Iraq sites. Officials also confirmed that in the next two weeks Hussein is planning to make a historic trip to Washington to meet with Bush. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Bush will make a diplomatic trip to Iraq in return within a month of Husseins planned visit.

Army Gen. Tommy Franks announced the immediate de-deployment of American troops. Returning divisions include the Army's 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Ga.; the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky.; and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton, Calif.

"The President has decided that not one human life will be lost in an invasion of Iraq, and we are all grateful for his wisdom and peaceful leadership." Franks said.

:

Running my fingertips over the newsprint
Sipping my coffee slowly

Sweet Lord, it tastes so good!