Bush and Blair agreed on seeking second U.N. resolution before waging war on Iraq

WASHINGTON, February 1 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – U.S. President George W. Bush softened his stance on seeking a new U.N. resolution mandating any use of military force against Iraq after a meeting with his staunch ally British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday, January 31.

"Should the United Nations decide to pass a second resolution, it would be welcome if it is yet another signal that we're intent upon disarming (Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein," Bush told a White House press conference with Blair.

Bush warned, however, that "any attempt to drag the process on for months will be resisted by the United States," claiming that U.N. disarmament resolution 1441, adopted on November 8, already authorizes the use of force, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Arguing that "time is running out" for Iraq, Blair called for a second resolution to reaffirm the global will to strip Iraq of any alleged chemical, biological or nuclear arms.

"What is important is that the international community comes together again and makes it absolutely clear that this is unacceptable," said Blair.

Blair left for London Friday night after an informal White House dinner to prepare for another summit on Tuesday with French President Jacques Chirac, who asserts nothing yet justifies war on Iraq.

He told reporters on his plane over the Atlantic that he and Bush had discussed the content of a possible second resolution.

"We obviously discussed what could go into such a resolution, and obviously the diplomatic efforts to secure it," he said.

"I think you should wait and see what happens in the next few weeks."

Getting a second resolution to green-light a U.S.-led war on Iraq might help get France, China and Russia -- all permanent U.N. Security Council members together with Britain and the United States -- to overcome their reluctance to see a war on Iraq that could dramatically alter the Middle East.

Both Bush and Blair derided an Iraqi invitation to U.N. chief inspector Hans Blix and Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei as a transparent attempt to fool the world.

"Let's see if I can be polite," said Bush. "Saddam Hussein has had 12 years to learn how to deceive, and I would view this as more deception on his part. If he is going to disarm, he must start disarming."

Blair agreed: "Why are they calling back the inspectors? I think it's fairly obvious. It's because as the pressure grows, they want to play the same games as they've been playing all the way through."

Blair is Bush's staunchest ally in the Iraq standoff, having pledged 30,000 troops, 120 tanks and a 16-ship naval task force led by the aircraft carrier Ark Royal to join the massive U.S. buildup in and around the Gulf.