Top U.S. military officer warns Iraq to destroy weapons

MANAMA, Bahrain -- The only way for Iraq to avoid a military strike is to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff warned Tuesday.

Speaking after talks with the king of Bahrain, the last stop on his Gulf tour, Gen. Richard Myers said the United States is deploying forces in the region "to do whatever it is they are called upon to do."

"Nobody likes war. It's not efficient and people get hurt and it's something that nobody wishes," Myers said.

"Clearly, one certain way to avoid conflict is for Iraqis to abide by agreements made at the end of the Gulf War, eradicate their country of weapons of mass destruction," Myers said, referring to U.N. resolutions that oblige Iraq to eliminate such arms.

Asked if war was imminent, Myers said: "I can guarantee you that no decisions have been made."