Bush and Blair hold war council

WASHINGTON - In a show of unity between leaders who have stood together in the war on terrorism, President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will meet at Camp David tomorrow to discuss diplomatic strategy for possible military action against Iraq.

Unlike other U.S. allies that have expressed deep reservations about launching a pre-emptive military strike against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, Blair has embraced the American president's aggressive stance. "I hate war. Every sensible person does. But sometimes it is the right thing to do," Blair said earlier this week.

It is a familiar role for America's most steadfast ally over a decade of conflict with Baghdad.

After the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait sparked the Gulf crisis, then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher admonished Bush's father, then-President George Bush, "Remember, George, this is no time to go wobbly."

The elder Bush later acknowledged the advice helped carry him through the most "troubling days" of the conflict.

British media have portrayed the talks between Bush and Blair as a "council of war" to light the fuse for a military conflict targeting Iraq's alleged weapons-of-mass-destruction programs and seeking Saddam's removal.

But a spokesman for Blair described them only as "an opportunity to cover all issues stemming from Saddam Hussein's continued violation of U.N. resolutions."

The Bush-Blair meeting at the Maryland presidential retreat will come one day after the president sought support from the leaders of France, Russia and China, which along with the United States and Britain, are the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.

Blair met Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal and also talked by phone to the leaders of France and Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested it would not be easy for Bush to secure U.N. approval for an attack and expressed "deep doubts" about using force.

French President Jacques Chirac said the U.N. Security Council should decide what action to take if Baghdad rejected the return of U.N. weapons inspectors.

Bush will lobby Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien when they meet on Monday, and outline the "serious threat" posed by Iraq's arms programs at the United Nations next Thursday.

Bush said his goal was to build an international "consensus" to halt Saddam's chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs.

Convincing skeptical U.S. allies will not be easy. Many are worried about the consequences for the Middle East. Arab League chief Amr Moussa warned a strike against Iraq would "open the gates of hell."

Bush is also facing skepticism at home, where key members of Congress are demanding more evidence laying out the imminent threat he says Saddam poses.

The White House said no further evidence was needed to justify possible U.S. action. "There is already a mountain of evidence that Saddam Hussein is gathering weapons for the purpose of using them. And adding additional information is like adding a foot to Mount Everest," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

Bush wants Congress to approve a resolution backing the use of force against Iraq if he decides it is necessary.

The hastily arranged Camp David meeting between Bush and Blair is expected to showcase their solidarity, although both leaders say no decision had been taken on action against Baghdad.

The British prime minister will make the round trip to Maryland's Catoctin mountains from London on the same day. The leaders will hold talks and have dinner at the secluded rural retreat, the White House said.

On the eve of the meeting, Blair underscored his resolve despite a recent opinion poll showing 71 percent of Britons opposed the country joining any U.S. attack on Iraq without the blessing of the United Nations.

Hinting strongly that Britain was prepared to go to war alongside the Americans, Blair said: "They need to know, 'Are you prepared to commit ... and when the shooting starts are you prepared to be there?"'

- REUTERS

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