I saw the press conference live and unspun. President Bush did NOT back away from war with Iraq.
In fact, I got the feeling the president finds some humor in the media "frenzy" over this "debate"...because as he clearly and calmly stated (again) ...he has not changed his mind.. Saddam is a threat and must go...and he is a patient man.
And, as Sec. Rumsfeld so nicely added---our allies haven't said "no" to action against Iraq because the President hasn't asked them to do anything (yet).
IMHO, the clock is ticking.