World Terror

U.S. willing to wait on Iraq
Saturday, January 25, 2003 Posted: 1:22 PM EST (1822 GMT)

Waiting in Kuwait

Colin Powell sent strong signals today that the United States would wait until after U.N. arms inspectors in Iraq submitted their report to the U.N. Security Council on Monday before making any decision on whether or not to lead a military coalition against Saddam Hussein.

"There are steps that we plan to go through, methodically, deliberately," Powell said during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. But Powell added, "There will be ultimately an end, I believe, to the patience of the international community."

Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency are scheduled to deliver the report on the progress of Iraq's U.N.-mandated compliance with Resolution 1441, which orders Baghdad to disclose all weapons of mass destruction and related materials. U.N. inspectors have been searching for evidence of such weapons since November.

Powell's comments came as the White House faced mounting international pressure to grant inspectors more time to complete their task -- even after they submit their report.

Powell: Timetable not discussed
Powell also told Reuters that he had not discussed a possible timetable for action when he held talks with Turkish officials Saturday. He said he was telling other nations that the burden of proof with regard to Iraq's weapons programs still rested with Baghdad.

President Bush warned of an "axis of evil"
in his 2002 State of the Union address.

"I will bring a message of American determination to work with the international community to deal with the most important threat, the threat presented by Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction," Powell said.

"We cannot now start shrinking because the going is getting tough. The burden is on Iraq -- Iraq must comply, or it will be made to comply by military force."

Iraq maintains it is complying with U.N. resolutions and that it has no weapons of mass destruction. The Bush administration says it is convinced that Iraq possesses such weapons.

Meanwhile, three Iraqi scientists refused Saturday to hold private interviews with U.N. weapons inspectors, Iraqi officials said. (Full story)

The Bush administration was preparing during the weekend for what is expected to be a crucial week full of developments related to the possibility of an Iraqi war.

President Bush gives his annual State of the Union address Tuesday, the day after the U.N. report is due. It was during his 2002 address that Bush included Iraq in his so-called "axis of evil" triumvirate of nations that allegedly pose a potential threat to the United States.

A senior White House official said the president will not use the speech to ask Congress to declare war. Rather, he will use the event as an opportunity to educate the public about the nature of the threat Iraq poses and to tell Americans the prospect for war is "very real."