Bush seeks authority to use force against Iraq

and Diego Ibarguen ~ Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON -- President Bush and Saddam Hussein traded insults Thursday as Bush alerted the U.N. Security Council that the United States will act with its allies against Iraq if world leaders don't move to eliminate the Iraqi dictator's weapons of mass destruction.

At the U.N., Iraq's Foreign Minister Naji Sabri read a letter from Saddam declaring that his country was "clear of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons" and inviting U.N. weapons inspectors to come and see without conditions.

He accused Bush of lying about Iraq's weapons out of lust for oil and loyalty to Israel.

"The U.S. administration wants to destroy Iraq to control the Middle East oil, and consequently control the politics as well as the oil and economic policies of the whole world," Saddam's letter said.

Bush mocked it.

"I didn't hear it. Let me guess: 'The United States is guilty. The world doesn't understand, we don't have any weapons of mass destruction.' It's the same old song-and-dance that we've heard for 11 long years," Bush told reporters at the White House.

Bush sent Congress a proposed resolution Thursday seeking authority to use all means, "including force," to ensure that Iraq no longer has weapons of mass destruction.

U.N. 'must show backbone'

"The United Nations Security Council must show backbone, must step up and hold this regime to account," Bush said. "Otherwise, the United States and some of our friends will do so."

Iraqi Foreign Minister Sabri coupled Iraq's invitation for unfettered inspections with the hope that it would eventually lead to a lifting of sanctions against Iraq. But Saddam's letter also said that previous U.N. resolutions were "unjust" and that previous inspections were tainted by inspectors spying on Iraq.

Secretary of State Colin Powell, testifying before Congress, voiced doubt that Iraq will cooperate with new U.N. inspections.

'Recipe for failure'

"Many U.N. members, including some on the Security Council, want to take Iraq at its word and send inspectors back in without any new resolution or new authority. This is a recipe for failure and we will not support it," Powell said.

Powell called Iraq's agreement to readmit U.N. weapons inspectors a "tactical ploy," and said the U.N. speech by the Iraqi foreign minister showed that Baghdad had no intention of making good on its pledge.

Powell warned that the United States would "find ways to thwart" any attempt by the Security Council to send inspectors back to Iraq without giving them greater powers. He did not elaborate.

Following a briefing of the U.N. Security Council, chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said Iraq's cooperation was essential to successful inspections.

"I think the criterion is cooperation on all respects," Blix told reporters. "Without cooperation on all respects, it will be difficult for any inspections."

Blix said he hopes to get the first inspectors on the ground in Iraq by Oct. 15.

Bush made clear that he does not want Congress to place any hurdles before him.

"If you want to keep the peace, you've got to have the authorization to use force," Bush said at the White House after meeting with Powell. "This is a chance for Congress to indicate support, a chance for Congress to say, 'We support the administration's ability to keep the peace.'"

House Speaker Dennis Hastert expects a House of Representatives vote on the congressional resolution during the first week of October. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., has said the Senate will vote before adjourning next month, too.