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WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 — Iraq said today that it was reluctantly studying a new United Nations demand to begin destroying missiles and rocket engines, but the Bush administration said that even the weapons' destruction would not be convincing evidence that Iraq would disarm fully. In Tokyo, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said he expected the United Nations Security Council to vote on a new Iraq resolution, expected to authorize force, shortly after March 7. A decision on going to war would come soon thereafter, American and British officials said. Iraqi officials said they were studying a United Nations demand...

<p>In February 1977, a French count, Sanche de Gramont, became an American citizen and changed his name to Ted Morgan. The following year his book, "On Becoming American," was widely hailed. Writer David Halberstam called it "wonderful, funny and wise. As good and fresh a book about America and why it is different from Europe as any I have ever read.</p>

    U.S. Says It's Deadline Time for Iraq to Disarm Feb. 23 — By Hassan Hafidh BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States warned on Sunday it was deadline time for Iraq to disarm or face war as Baghdad said it was seriously considering U.N. demands to begin destroying its al-Samoud 2 missiles by March 1. "We are reaching that point where serious consequences must flow," said Secretary of State Colin Powell, using Washington's language for war as the missiles became a major test of Iraqi compliance with the United Nations. Powell, a driving force behind a new U.S....

Bush tries to bolster Iraq case U.S., Britain working on resolution to show Baghdad's defiance 02/23/2003 By G. ROBERT HILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News CRAWFORD, Texas - Entering a final diplomatic phase, President Bush said Saturday that the new resolution being prepared for the U.N. Security Council will state "in clear and simple terms" that Iraq is thwarting the U.N. demand to disarm. With Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar at his side, Mr. Bush also challenged other world leaders who have been reluctant to go to war. In testing times, he said, "we discover who is willing...

<p>BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Half of the U.N. humanitarian staff in Iraq has left the country over the last two weeks to make a possible evacuation easier in case of war, a U.N. official said Friday. Out of about 900 foreigners working for U.N. aid programs in the country, about 450 have left after a recommendation from headquarters in New York, the official said on condition of anonymity.</p>

Is it gauche to despise French over politics? "We have a massive love-hate relationship ... " 02/21/2003 By MICHAEL E. YOUNG / The Dallas Morning News Angered beyond the breaking point by a swaggering leader who refuses to listen to reason, furious at a nation that dares disdain the culture and values of the United States, many in America have decided to declare war - against France. Yep, with battle imminent against Iraq, home of Saddam Hussein, it turns out that in many minds the real enemy is our oldest ally, the French. From barbs in talk show monologues...

<p>"Last weekend, across Europe and America, somewhere between 1 million and 2 million people marched against a war with Saddam Hussein's Iraq. All protests against war are ultimately ethical in nature, and Saturday's placard-wavers did not break with tradition: "Give Peace a Chance," "Make Tea, Not War," "Bush and Blair -- the Real War Criminals." These are statements of sentiment, not power politics, and the sentiment is, or is meant to be, a moral one.</p>

Bush, Blair press U.N. Allies to set deadline, offer new resolution citing Iraqi 'breach' 02/20/2003 Associated Press UNITED NATIONS - Facing global opposition to a rush to war, the United States and Britain will introduce a new U.N. resolution in the coming days and set a deadline for Iraq to cooperate fully with weapons inspectors, Britain's U.N. ambassador said Wednesday. Diplomats said the resolution would declare Iraq in "material breach" of its obligations to disarm, a requirement for any military action. The two allies will present the deadline separately, and they will demand a decision on the resolution in...

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern says Ireland made a significant contribution to the shaping of the agreement reached by the European Union on Iraq. European leaders have warned Iraq that it faced a 'last chance' to disarm peacefully. In a strongly worded declaration last night, EU leaders also affirmed solidarity with the US. "Baghdad should have no illusions. The Iraqi regime alone will be responsible for the consequences if it continues to flout the will of the international community," 15 EU leaders said in a joint declaration. Bertie Ahern says Ireland's position is very much in line with the rest of the...

EU to Iraq: Disarm now 02/17/2003 Associated Press BRUSSELS, Belgium - European leaders united Monday behind a declaration affirming solidarity with the United States and warning Saddam Hussein that Iraq faces one "last chance" to disarm peacefully. The declaration by 15 European Union leaders including French President Jacques Chirac gave firm backing for the U.S. and British demand for swift action to disarm Iraq. But it also recognized the Franco-German drive for a peaceful solution, calling war "a last resort." "Baghdad should have no illusions. It must disarm and cooperate immediately and fully. The Iraqi regime alone will be...

<p>UNITED NATIONS — Less-than-damning assessments of Iraq's cooperation by the chief U.N. weapons inspectors coupled with massive worldwide protests against a possible war have sent the United States and Britain back to the drawing board.</p> <p>Speaking on condition of anonymity, diplomats said U.S. and British officials are toning down a draft resolution, and that the final version may not explicitly call for war.</p>

<p>NEW YORK — Foreign ministers from all corners of the globe took turns Friday reacting to reports from international chief weapons inspectors, who said that while Iraq is cooperating more than usual in the disarmament process, there is still much work to be done.</p>

Tension rises over Iraq policy; division in Europe grows wider British official berates call for more inspectors; NATO allies at odds 02/12/2003 By GREGORY KATZ / The Dallas Morning News LONDON - The angry dispute over Iraq festered in Europe on Tuesday as British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw denounced calls for expanded U.N. inspections and NATO allies again failed to agree on whether to proceed with war planning. Mr. Straw, condemning a plan backed by France, Germany, Russia and China, said implementing their calls for tougher weapons inspections rather than a military attack to disarm Saddam Hussein was "a...

Bush administration, Congress discuss plans for postwar Iraq Two-year-plus role seen for military; officials outline arms, oil issues 02/12/2003 The New York Times WASHINGTON - In the first detailed public discussion of the Bush administration's plans for a postwar Iraq, senior officials told Congress on Tuesday that it would take more than two years for the U.S. military to transfer control of the Baghdad government to Iraqi leaders. The officials, seeking to demonstrate to skeptical senators that the administration's planning was well-advanced, outlined a long list of steps for democratizing Iraq after the ouster of Saddam Hussein. Those would...

<p>DOHA, Qatar — Usama bin Laden called on Muslims throughout the world to unite behind Iraq Tuesday in an audiotape broadcast on Al-Jazeera satellite TV.</p> <p>Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Colin Powell told a Senate committee that the audiotape would be aired, and that the voice on the recording is believed to be that of bin Laden, the Al Qaeda mastermind who has been in hiding since the Sept. 11 terror attacks.</p>

U.S. critical of boosting inspections Germany, France want U.N. troops to pressure Baghdad to open up 02/10/2003 By JOHN MINTZ / The Washington Post WASHINGTON – Top Bush administration officials Sunday criticized new proposals floated by the French and German governments to avert war in Iraq. Those plans call for sending increased numbers of United Nations weapons inspectors into Iraq along with U.N. troops who would try to enforce demands that Baghdad comply with weapons searches. < snip > On the program Fox News Sunday, Mr. Powell said that increasing the numbers of U.N. inspectors would be a useless exercise....

Pope to send envoy to Baghdad to try to ease Iraq crisis 02/09/2003 Associated Press VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II will dispatch an envoy to Iraq in a plea for peace and to encourage Baghdad to cooperate with the United Nations, the Vatican said Sunday. Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, emeritus president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, will leave for Baghdad on Monday with a counselor, Monsignor Franco Coppola. The mission will seek to "show to all the plea of the Holy Father in favor of peace and to help the Iraqi authorities to make a...

US and Britain give Saddam just 48 hours to leave Iraq By Julian Coman in Washington and Colin Brown(Filed: 09/02/2003) Britain and America are drawing up plans to give Saddam Hussein as little as 48 hours to flee Baghdad or face war, if UN weapons inspectors report this week that the Iraqi dictator is still refusing to disarm fully.The proposals will form the framework of a long-awaited second resolution, which could be put before the Security Council by next weekend. The deadline would be just long enough for Arab neighbours to make a last effort to persuade Saddam to leave...

Nations lining up to back U.S. war 02/09/2003 By RICHARD WHITTLE / The Dallas Morning News WASHINGTON - Critics accuse President Bush of preparing to make war on Iraq "unilaterally," but U.S. officials say they are molding together a coalition of nearly two dozen nations willing to help disarm Baghdad by force. Britain, with thousands of troops, dozens of combat aircraft and an aircraft carrier battle group of ships already in the Persian Gulf or on the way, is the ally expected to make the largest contribution of military forces. Australia also is said to be ready to commit...

France, Russia, China launch diplomaticcounteroffensive against US, Britain 02/08/2003 Associated Press UNITED NATIONS - France, Russia and China have launched a diplomatic counteroffensive against the United States and Britain, opposing a rush to war and insisting that U.N. weapons inspectors be given a chance to disarm Iraq peacefully. While U.S. and British diplomats considered options for a new U.N. resolution authorizing military action against Iraq, the three other veto-wielding members of the Security Council demanded that inspections be given more time. The leaders of France and China reiterated that point in phone calls to President Bush Friday, and Russian...