U.S. may give up on U.N. war vote

USA TODAY ^ | 14th MArch | John Diamond and Susan Page

[maquiladora]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush (news - web sites) is willing to abandon his demand for a United Nations (news - web sites) vote on Iraq (news - web sites) as the White House prepares an ultimatum that would presage the start of war.

The planned presidential address from the White House could come within hours of a collapse of deliberations at the United Nations, a senior administration official said Thursday. It would signal an ''end of diplomacy'' and warn journalists, U.N. weapons inspectors and international aid workers that it was time to leave Iraq.

Within days, Bush would follow with a ''start of bombing'' speech when the war begins, the official said in an interview.

In a stunning shift forced by international opposition, Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said Thursday that the administration might abandon its effort to win Security Council support for a resolution that would give tacit international approval of an Iraq invasion. Bush had insisted that a vote should occur no later than today. The administration official said there would be a U.N. vote, or a decision not to have a vote, by early next week.

[The Wizard]

so, while the calls kept going out thursday, their content changed:

Bush shifted his feverish diplomacy from pressing undecided council members to thanking leaders who have supported the U.S. policy.

It's over, the decision has been made the nonsense at the UN this weekend is for Saddam's benefit

[The Wizard]

while this has the same headline, it's a different article

[The Wizard]

info bump

[sd-joe]

ALL RIGHT. It is decided.

We know who is with us and who is against us. France, Germany, and Russia have shown their true colors.

It has become obvious that the UN is no longer a workable institution (if it ever was).

A new alignment is occuring in the world. Britain, Australia, Spain, Japan, Eastern Europe, Italy, and a score of other counties can be worked with. France can no longer be treated as an ally and a friend.

In a way, it has been worthwhile to spend the time to work this out and make it obvious to all those who would look.

Lets roll.

[Petronski]

It is definitely 'come to Jesus' time for this White House. Both the 'weeks not months' promise and the 'March 17 deadline' promise rush up on us like an oncoming Freightliner.

The White House risks not only its international credibility, but also its credibility among its own domestic political base. Admiration for their steadfast and robust determination will evaporate if we learn the determination was only bluff and nothing more.

A 'deadline' is not a moveable feast.

[UncleSamUSA]

I hope this is true and that we now get down to business in Iraq, unfettered by the gasbags at the UN.

By the way, this also means that the extortionist "paydays" that folks like the Angolans, Chileans, Mexicans, Cameroonians, and even the Turks expected to get are now going bye-bye.

Fine with me.

[Trust but Verify]

The WH has made a hash of the whole thing. I'm very disappointed in Bush and the whole lot. Bush should have repeated the 'if you're not with us, you're against us' ultimatum to our alleged allies and left the UN out of it.

The delays have also given the left more time to mount opposition and the anti-American demonstrators to get their 15 minutes. He should have shut them all up by doing what he has intended to do all along, liberate Iraq.

[section9]

The delays have also given the left more time to mount opposition and the anti-American demonstrators to get their 15 minutes. He should have shut them all up by doing what he has intended to do all along, liberate Iraq.

He will. The fact that the diplomacy has been this drawn out has been to help Blair. How and ever, now that Bush is calling all the supporters to thank them, I too suspect that the "go" decision has been made.

All that is left is the Council of War with Blair, Aznar, and Bush.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Kerberos]

Bump for later read

[Guenevere]

All that is left is the Council of War with Blair, Aznar and Bush.

Just reported, these 3 will be meeting this weekend in the Azores.

....so be it!

[finnman69]

Bush has decided enough is enough. I bet he is pissed at Powell and chastised him fro getting him in this mess. Rumsfeld and Cheney are certainly grinning 'I told you so', but also glum that it is mid March and it will make conditions for our forces much mroe difficult.

War breaks out within 1 week.

[Hila]

"War beaks out within a week" - it will be about time, may His truth march on and cause all of our troops to be victorious and come back home in due time.

[Prysson]

I agree with all sentiments but the last....partially.

I admit that it is nice to see public opinion finally turning against that farcical institution known as the U.N. But I am not sure giving Saddam all of this time to booby trap oil wells and move his bio/chem weapons into place is worth it. If we can pull this off with little loss of life then Bush will be a hero but if we lose thousands of troops due to delay...well I will still be on Bush's side but by God he will have some explaining to do.

It just seems to me that all of this delay has only served to stiffen oposition abroad, endanger Blair's position further and ultimately add greater risk to our boys over seas. I have two brothers and a brother in law in the Gulf right now all doing their duty. They are eager and ready to do their duty and serve their country. I couldn't be prouder. But Bush has a greater responsibility to them then he does to the U.N. and in my view he has increased their risk with this dilly dallying. I am not happy about it at all.

[sd-joe]

Yes, your points are very valid.

Powell, on TV last weekend, when asked about the delay in going through the UN, stated that it took a lot of time to do the proper military buildup, and that there really was not much extra time taken in dealing with the UN.

[George W. Bush]

We can't have a vote because France and Russia will veto and have enough negative votes that it will then throw the question into the General Assembly which will promptly vote against America as it always does.

It would be disaster for our allies to give France a chance to rally the General Assembly against us. We can go it alone legally but not our allies. This is part of what Rumsfeld was driving at recently in his remarks (not that he should have made those remarks anyway).

[Becki]

Will they be including the Aussies? I don't see mention of Howard.

Thanks!

Becki

[VRWC_minion]

The fact that the diplomacy has been this drawn out has been to help Blair

Plus buying time. Having that communications sattelite in place is a big deal as well as other military prep.

[paul51]

France can no longer be treated as an ally and a friend.

Add germany and turkey to that list

[knak]

I think Howard is a given. He's in it regardless. IMHO