[dark_lord]

They just want "deal's".

Russia wants the $40B Iraq owes to them.
China wants a free (or more free) hand to deal with Taiwan and their "economic zone".
France wants to keep making money from Iraqi oil and to needle the US.

I think we can give Russia what they want - after an Iraqi occupation, a % of the Iraqi oil sales go to pay off Russia.
France will continue to make money after Iraq is occupied. They will continue to needle us, also.
China is the more problematic issue. We can make them promises...but at what cost?

So, I am sure the State dept. will try to get them all to agree. There is a time frame. If they don't - then screw 'em, the US goes it alone and the UN becomes the League of Nations. They don't want that to happen as the Security Council gives them a forum. So there is pressure on them, also.

[marajade]

Then Bush should publicly state what the deals are and forget the UN.

[EGPWS]

They just want "deal's". China wants a free (or more free) hand to deal with Taiwan and their "economic zone".

Seems to me that we we have dealt enough to China's benefit throughout the '90's thanks to "the schlickmiester"