US unrelenting on case for force against Iraq

8.00am

WASHINGTON - Facing continued resistance in the United Nations and protests from millions around the world, the United States on Sunday (Washington Time) pressed its drive to disarm Iraq by force if necessary.

President Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, said consultations were continuing over a possible additional UN resolution to ensure Iraqi President Saddam Hussein eliminates weapons of mass destruction programs.

But she suggested the proposal might not be put forward, asserting it had not yet been drafted. "We're working it with different parties, with our friends. We will see," she told Fox News Sunday.

Bush has said he would welcome a second resolution if it did not block the quick use of military action to enforce Resolution 1441 passed in November that demanded Iraq disarm or face "serious consequences." He has also said he would lead a coalition of willing nations against Iraq without further UN backing.

"We don't want a Security Council resolution that somehow is a delaying tactic," Rice said. "This should really reaffirm 1441 because we believe that we have all of the authority necessary under 1441 and several other UN Security Council resolutions, to impose serious consequences on Iraq if necessary."

Washington and London were working on language that would implicitly have the 15-member Security Council authorize force. But they face an uphill struggle to get the minimum nine votes needed for adoption, with several council members shying away from taking a position.

Asked if the United States felt it could swing the votes, Rice told NBC's "Meet the Press": "Well, we're prepared to work toward that end and we will see where we come out."

Key countries, particularly veto-carrying France and Russia, have pressed for UN inspectors to continue looking for banned weapons programs. The United States has moved tens of thousands of troops to the region in preparation for a possible invasion and has said Iraq has weeks, not months, to comply.

"Continuing to talk about more time and more time is basically going to relieve pressure on the Iraqis to do what they must do," Rice told NBC.

US Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, said the United States and Britain would propose a resolution this week that calls for "definitive progress on the part of the, quote, 'disarmament of Saddam Hussein."'

"If that's rejected, then I think the United States of America is going to have to make some difficult decisions," McCain said.

McCain, who supports the administration's effort, blasted the French and Germans for spearheading the opposition in the council as well as at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

The Americans appeared on the Sunday talk shows a day after millions of people protested in cities worldwide against what they see as a relentless drive to war on the part of the United States.

On Friday, the US effort was dealt a further blow when chief arms inspector Hans Blix gave the Security Council a mixed report on Iraqi compliance.

France threw up an additional obstacle by proposing another ministerial meeting of the council on March 14, after the best time for an invasion from the military point of view.

Rice said only, "March 14th is not a date to our ... point of view."

"We will see when it would be most feasible to get a reaffirmation of 1441 through another resolution, if that is, indeed, what the Security Council decides to do."

Rice denied the US administration was rattled by the waves of street protests in London, Rome, New York and elsewhere. . "Nothing could be further from the truth," she said. "People have the right to protest. ... I just think that it would be worthwhile to step back and to remember the true nature of the Iraqi regime ... and to ask yourself, 'Do you really want this regime to go unchallenged for the next 12 years, as we've done for the last 12 years?"'

She added: "I'm fearful that if we let this go on for terribly much longer, if we continue to talk about process rather than substance, that indeed we will play into Saddam Hussein's hands, or at least the Security Council will."

- REUTERS

Herald feature: Iraq