Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 1-1

123456 FINAL 156TH CHICAGO TRIBUNE 50 INDEX, PAGE 2 U.S. strikes Iraq Bush launches pre-emptive war to oust Hussein Long, difficult campaign ahead, president warns By Matt Tribune staff reporter In a landmark verdict, a federal jury Wednesday convicted former Gov. George closest political confidant and campaign fund in a wide- ranging corruption scheme that diverted government resources for political gain and led to shredding of campaign documents to keep them from investigators. The racketeering and fraud convictions of Scott Fawell, former chief of staff, and the Citizens for Ryan campaign committee mark the most significant prosecutions of the nearly five-year Operation Safe Road probe of scandal- scarred stewardship of the secretary of office. The verdict represented the first time in U.S history that a political organization has been convicted of racketeering.

The convictions draw the probe ever closer to Ryan, who was linked by testimony at the trial to the scandal that crippled his political popularity and played a major role in his deci- sion not to seek a second term as governor. It may also signal a pivotal moment in political history by forcing an end to politics as usual in state government, said one attorney involved in the grueling two-month trial. think everybody should beware that reform may be coming by way of criminal said attorney Thomas Breen, who defended Citizens for Ryan. think for a long, long time mixed politics and government, and those days seem to be over with, or at least if going to do it, As he left the Dirksen Federal Building still free on bond, Fawell, 45, told reporters, can live with myself very In a brief statement issued after the verdict, Ryan said he re- Jury convicts Fawell, Ryan campaign of fraud Tribune photo by Scott Strazzante Scott Fawell (left), George former chief of staff, leaves the Dirksen Federal Building on Wednesday after his conviction. Verdict most significant of Operation Safe Road probe PLEASE SEE FAWELL, PAGE21 By Bob Kemper and Jeff Zeleny Washington Bureau WASHINGTON Overriding global protests and the concerns of longtime allies, President Bush ordered the first pre-emptive war in modern American history, sending U.S.

forces into Iraq and warning the American people Wednesday night that his drive to topple Saddam Hussein could be long and difficult. Promising to Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave Bush, for the second time in his two- year tenure, took America to war against a Muslim nation he accuses of harboring terrorists and presenting a direct threat to the American people. As U.S. Tomahawk missiles and bombs from Stealth bombers struck the Baghdad area, Bush spoke from the Oval Office to a nation divided about the necessity of war, anxious about the threat of terrorist attacks and worried for the safety of a U.S. fighting force now numbering more than 250,000 in the Persian Gulf region.

that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive Bush said in his address delivered about two hours after the 8 p.m. EST deadline he had set for Hussein to leave the country. will not be a campaign of half-measures, and we will accept no outcome but The first attack in what Bush vowed would be broad and AT THE WHITE HOUSE Tribune photo by Pete Souza President Bush delivers an address to the nation Wednesday from the Oval Office. will accept no outcome but PLEASE SEE BUSH, PAGE11 By James Janega and E.A. Torriero Tribune staff reporters ABOARD THE USS BUNKER HILL A barrage of missiles and guided bombs rained down on targets in Iraq early Thursday Baghdad time, the opening salvo in the American-led campaign aimed at driving Iraqi President Saddam Hussein from power.

As American and British ground troops massed along border with Kuwait, the long-anticipated U.S.-led air assault against regime employed surgical strikes aimed at decapitating leadership instead of the overwhelming bombardment that Pentagon officials promised was still to come. the air campaign starts, you will definitely know a Pentagon official said. will be clear and unambiguous. This was not the start of the air The air strikes began with more than three dozen cruise missiles blazing into the dawn from the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill and other ships in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, starting at 5:15 a.m. local time (8:15 p.m.

Chicago time) and ending 40 minutes later. Military officials said F-117 Stealth planesjoined in the attack aiming at of just south of the capital, Baghdad, after U.S. intelligence Photo by Chief Petty Officer Alan J. Three Tomahawk missiles are launched early Thursday from the guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook in the Red Sea. PLEASE SEE IRAQ BACK PAGE Cruise missiles aimed at targets in Baghdad area By Charles M.

Madigan Tribune senior correspondent As the United States went to war, an anxious America worried about its sons and daughters and a mission in Iraq to unseat a despotic leader with a reputation for brutality and a history of using chemical weapons. In much of the nation Wednesday, there was a mix of patriotic fervor and anticipation as troops rushed toward the Iraqi border and jets began softening the way for a U.S. invasion by blasting Iraqi artillery sites hours before President Bush announced the opening of the war. know when a war, someone has to said Acamea Deadwiler, 22, of Gary, after speech. Her father was sent overseas two weeks ago with the Illinois National Guard.

just pray he makes it home safe and pray the whole thing is over Some people said the war was overdue. get him. Thank God. If we get him, get said Charles Chaffin, 79, of Chicago Heights, who was in downtown Chicago on Wednesday with his wife, Wanda, to go to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Life would go on, he said, even as his worries about terrorism will lead him to avoid crowds and ACROSS THE U.S.

Prayers, protests mark mix of moods PLEASE SEE MOOD, PAGE7 By Michael Kilian Washington Bureau WASHINGTON The U.S. and British assault under way is designed to accomplish a few early objectives: attack Iraqi leadership targets, seize the key port city of Basra, secure the major highway leading from Basra to Baghdad, and then sur- roundthe Iraqi capital. As they pursue these aims, coalition forces are expected to focuson knocking out Scud missile launchers, seizing airfields and other key points in western Iraq, and taking control of the oil fields in the north to prevent Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein from burning them. Unlike the first Persian Gulf war, when weeks of bombing preceded the ground attack, the ground action is designed to be- ginwithin a day or two of the aerial assault, and possibly within that the attacks will have maximum shock value and Hussein can be prevented from organizing an effective defense. see a use of air power to soften the battlefield, but it go on for said former Deputy Assistant Defense Secretary Michele Flournoy.

will go on for hours or days. You will see a much more rapid use of ground and am- DAY ONE OBJECTIVES Lightning sweep aims to isolate Iraqi leader PLEASE SEE AIMS, PAGE11 100 MILES SAUDI ARABIA KUWAIT IRAQ IRAN Basra Baghdad SYRIA The U.S. attacked Baghdad-area targets with precision-guided bombs and cruise missiles. WAR ON IRAQ Adaily roundup of key developments in the conflict from around the world. PAGE 3 Complete war coverage continues on PAGES 3-15 Get updates throughout the day at CHICAGOTRIBUNE.COM.