Blix, who earlier refused any U.S. pressure, had a change of heart after meeting Powell

Additional Reporting By IOL Correspondent

WASHINGTON, October 5 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Despite a press conference by some members of Congress expressing their opposition to a war on Iraq, the U.S. Congress on Friday, October 4, inched closer to granting President George W. Bush his long-sought approval for a pre-emptive strike against Iraq. However, U.S. officials admit they still lack enough support in the Security Council.

After the U.S. Senate debated the matter Friday, supporters were confident that that body would approve a resolution in the coming week, most likely on Wednesday or Thursday, October 9, 10.

"The atmosphere around the resolution has matured. And while it's very serious, I also think it's calm," said Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, a Republican who supports the resolution.

The measure appeared almost to be a fait accompli, since no Congress in the post-World War II era has ever denied a president's wishes to approve a resolution authorizing the use of force.

Nevertheless, opponents were vociferous in their disapproval, particularly among Senate Democrats.

"Our first priority should be the successful completion of the war on terrorism," said Senator Bob Graham, a Democrat from Florida and chairman of the Intelligence Committee, in a speech on the Senate floor.

"Today, we Americans are more vulnerable to international terrorist organizations than we are to [Iraqi leader] Saddam Hussein," Graham said.

Bush's spokesman said the president hoped Monday's speech would sway detractors in the congress and in the public at large.

"As Congress begins the debate... it's important and it's helpful to members of Congress in both parties for them to hear what the president thinks," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

Arab American political activists in Washington D.C. also see the Congress standing behind the president, although they have stated that the approval will be a watered down version of the Bush’s demands for unabated presidential decision-making power.

Khalil Jahshan, Vice President of the American Arab Ant-Discrimination Committee and Khaled Saffuri, of the Islamic Institute (II), joined Al-Jazeera’s Hafiz al-Mirazi on the weekly program “Min Washington (From Washington)” on Friday evening to discuss the country’s move towards approving Bush’s decision to wage war on Iraq.

Both Arab American leaders stated that there would almost definitely be Congressional support of the president’s moves in regards to Iraq but that his requests for unchecked power would not be granted.

While some members of Congress hosted a news conference on The Hill stating their opposition to a war on Iraq, many believe that their opposition will be in vain.

During the press conference, Representative Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill) held up a large stack of letters against a war with Iraq and raised only a small stack of letters supporting a war.

She was joined by fellow members of Congress Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), John Conyers (D-MI), Jose Serrano (D-NY) and Maxine Waters (D-CA), who also expressed their opposition. These members of Congress have been very supportive of the Arab American community and have voiced protest to the current sanctions imposed on Iraq.

Meanwhile, the chief United Nations arms inspector on Friday threw his weight behind moves toward a new U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq, but U.S. officials admitted they lack the support for the tough resolution they want.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and national security advisor Condoleeza Rice discussed moves toward sending a new disarmament mission to Iraq with chief U.N. arms inspector Hans Blix.

The United States does not want inspectors to return to Iraq until a new resolution is passed by the Security Council setting out conditions for a mission and warning Saddam that he would face action if he does not comply.

"I think the Security Council resolution that is now being discussed is one that I think I would welcome," said Blix, who briefed the Security Council on Thursday.

"This would further clarify matters. We welcome this effort and I have the impression that... there is broad support [among council members] for having a new resolution."

Blix would not comment on the debate on the form of the resolution, while Powell said he was "optimistic" that a firm resolution could still be agreed.

Russia has strongly opposed any new resolution saying that the United Nations should concentrate on quickly getting inspectors back into Iraq.

The debate has been complicated by France's insistence that there should be two resolutions, with only the second specifying the use of military force.

After a week of intense diplomacy, the United States and Britain still lack sufficient support to pass a single, tough resolution on Iraq and may be forced to agree to two resolutions, U.S. and U.N. officials said.

Russia or France could veto any resolution as permanent members of the Security Council, with the United States, Britain and China.

In addition to the veto threat, the U.S.-British proposal is opposed by a majority of the elected members, the officials said.

The split would leave the United States and Britain with little choice but to accept a French proposal for two resolutions, the officials said.

France said Friday that moves to send U.N. weapons inspectors back into Iraq should go ahead, despite U.S. attempts to hold them back.

"There is currently no obstacle to continuing preparations for the inspectors' mission," foreign ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau told reporters.

U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher on Friday refused to confirm that a compromise was likely but did admit that the debate was "intricate and intense."

Stepping up its campaign against Iraq, the U.S. Defense Department said it had detected signs that Iraq was trying to conceal weapons of mass destruction before any inspections take place.

The Pentagon did not give details of Iraq's efforts to hide its chemical and biological weapons, but spokeswoman Victoria Clarke said they were intended to divert any inspections which may be approved by the U.N. Security Council.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) said separately that U.S. intelligence had concluded that Iraq has resumed production of chemical warfare agents and has a large scale biological weapons production capability.

A CIA document said that "since [U.N.] inspections ended in 1998, Iraq has maintained its chemical weapons effort, energized its missile program, and invested more heavily in biological weapons; most analysts assess Iraq is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program."

It said Iraq had largely rebuilt missile and biological weapons facilities damaged during 1998 U.S.-British air strikes and expanded chemical and biological infrastructure under the cover of civilian production.

"Baghdad has begun renewed production of chemical warfare agents, probably including mustard, sarin, cyclosarin, and VX," it said.

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