[shniad at sfu.ca: [R-G] Bush growing impatient with UN on Iraq - G&M]

[Hans Ehrbar]

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Globe and Mail	 October 17, 2002

Bush growing impatient with UN on Iraq
 
America 'will lead a coalition' to war if Security Council won't act,
President says
 
By PAUL KORING
 
WASHINGTON -- If the United Nations Security Council fails to act, America
"will lead a coalition" of nations to war to compel Iraqi disarmament and
oust Saddam Hussein from power, U.S. President George W. Bush said
yesterday.

Throwing down a gauntlet to the Security Council, Mr. Bush said he was
willing to wait a little while longer, but warned: "If the UN can't act . .
. if they're unable to act, if once again, after 11 years and 16
resolutions, they cannot bring themselves together to disarm Saddam Hussein,
then we will lead a coalition to do just that."

So far, such a coalition amounts to a pair: only British Prime Minister Tony
Blair stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Mr. Bush on military action if
needed, even in the absence of Security Council legitimacy.

Other close American allies -- including Canada -- have hedged their
support. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien promised Canada would do "its duty" if
the UN authorized the use of force, but has refused to say whether his
government would join a military action if the Security Council didn't
explicitly authorize war.

After weeks of wrangling, the Security Council remains deeply riven, unable
to agree on a tough Anglo-American draft resolution that would demand
immediate Iraqi compliance with all outstanding resolutions and allow for
all necessary measures -- including the use of force -- if Mr. Hussein
attempted any delay.

Five weeks ago, Mr. Bush first warned the Security Council that it had "days
or weeks" but not months to deal with Iraq, or Washington would proceed with
whatever allies were willing to join it.

Yesterday, after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the
President insisted he was "a patient man," but senior White House officials
also warned that time was rapidly running out.

"They don't have forever," said Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman,
referring to the Security Council's 15 member nations. Three of the
veto-wielding permanent five -- France, Russia and China -- remain opposed
to the single Anglo-American draft resolution. Paris wants a two-step
process, with a second resolution authorizing force only if -- at some
undetermined date -- weapons' inspectors report that Iraq has failed to
destroy its weapons of mass destruction.

"We are more than a month, but we're not at months," Mr. Fleischer said.
"Not to put too fine a line on it, but the President's words speak for
themselves."

If the Security Council remains deadlocked, "the President has made it
perfectly plain that the United States will assemble a coalition of the
willing, who are going to enforce the UN resolutions," Mr. Fleischer said.

The Bush administration wants Iraq disarmed but it is also committed to
toppling Mr. Hussein.

"The policy of the United States is both," Mr. Fleischer said.

Even as the Security Council opened two days of public debate yesterday with
no evidence of a common position emerging, the President appeared to be
making progress.

Canada offered its support yesterday for the U.S. government's determination
to use force, if necessary, to destroy suspected chemical, biological or
nuclear weapons facilities in Iraq.

Speaking at the Security Council, Canadian ambassador Paul Heinbecker said
the world body must "spell out in clear and unequivocal terms what is
required of the government of Iraq, that is, immediate, unconditional and
unrestricted access to all sites for weapons inspectors" at their own
discretion.

Iraq must have no doubt it will face "serious consequences" if it thwarts
the UN. Mr. Heinbecker called for "clarity and unity" among the member
states on the Security Council in letting Iraq know what it must do.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan appeared to throw his considerable influence
behind Washington, saying that a new resolution "strengthening the
inspectors' hands, so that there are no weaknesses or ambiguities . . .
would be appropriate."

In a statement to the council, read by his Canadian deputy, Louise
Frechette, the Secretary-General echoed Mr. Bush's contention that the
credibility of the UN was at stake unless it enforced already-passed
resolutions.

"The situation created by Iraq's failure to comply fully with the
resolutions of this council since 1991 is indeed one of the gravest and most
serious facing the international community," Mr. Annan said.

Earlier, at a signing ceremony flanked by a bipartisan congressional
delegation, the President had harsh words for those nations unwilling to
take action against Baghdad. "Those who choose to live in denial may be
forced to live in fear," he said after signing a joint congressional
declaration of support for the President to wage war if necessary to force
Mr. Hussein to disarm.

Mr. Bush made it clear he would not countenance leaving the Iraqi dictator
in power, the way his father did at the end of the 1991 Persian Gulf war.







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