"Evidently some in the world don't view (Iraqi President Saddam Hussein) as a risk to peace. I respectfully disagree," Bush told reporters as Washington ordered 28,000 more troops to the Gulf region.

"War is my last choice, but the risk of doing nothing is even a worse option...I owe it to the American people to secure this country. I will do so," said Bush, showing no signs of wobbling despite increasing war jitters across the world and nervous stock, currency and oil markets.

The United States and close ally Britain pressed ahead with lobbying of other nations to secure a fresh UN mandate authorizing force against Iraq if necessary, and the White House said the resolution could be proposed this week.

The trigger for possible war seems to boil down to the 15-nation UN Security Council's view on the level of Iraqi cooperation, with France leading opposition to any new resolution at present on grounds that UN inspections in Iraq appear to be working. Washington and London say Iraq has already flouted UN disarmament demands.

UN inspectors have found no smoking gun so far but reported a new hitch with Baghdad Tuesday, saying many Iraqi scientists had agreed to be interviewed about arms programs only if the meetings were recorded.

While a European Union summit Monday produced a more united international front against Iraq, Washington and London still faced opposition from other powerful states such as France, Russia, China and Germany over how long to give Baghdad to come clean over any weapons of mass destruction.

Russia said it had lined up with Monday's joint statement by EU leaders, which set no deadline for Baghdad to comply fully with UN disarmament resolutions but did say UN arms inspections could not go on indefinitely and that force could be used as a last resort.

Turkish Setback for Bush

US war preparations suffered a new setback when Turkey held out for a bigger US financial support package in negotiations on the use of Turkish soil as a launch pad for an invasion of Iraq. Washington expressed optimism that the issue could be resolved.

Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have been pouring troops, warplanes and warships into the Gulf region.

They insist no deadline for war has been set, but military experts say the huge military build-up of some 250,000 troops has been designed for action in March, just weeks before the searing heat of the Iraqi summer.

France, Russia, and China, veto-holders on the UN Security Council, have led the argument that UN arms inspectors should be given more time to assess whether Iraq has nuclear, chemical and biological weapons while Baghdad shows cooperation.

The United States and Britain, the other veto members, have made no secret of the fact that they see the next report by arms inspectors to the Security Council on February 28 as a key date.

The United States and Britain, backed by Spain and Bulgaria on the Security Council, say Saddam has already had enough time but France, Russia and China took comfort from an inspectors' report last week that suggested greater cooperation by Iraq. Others on the council are largely undecided.

Protests by millions of anti-war protesters in cities around the world last weekend boosted their case against a rush to war.

The UN inspectors say Iraq has failed to account for banned arms material it had when UN monitors were last in the country in 1998. Iraq says it has destroyed all such arms.

Iraq has made some concessions to the inspectors recently, however, that have made it more difficult for Bush and Blair to win international backing for war. The concessions include allowing U-2 spy plane flights over Iraqi territory.

Work on New Resolution

Bush said he would prefer a new UN resolution in support of resolution 1441 approved last November, but was prepared to wage war against Iraq with what he calls a "coalition of the willing" if the UN failed to act.

"We don't need a second resolution...(Saddam is) in total defiance with 1441. But we're working with our friends and allies to see if we can get a second resolution," Bush said.

He declined to say whether Washington would support a deadline in a new resolution to give Saddam a last chance to destroy any weapons of mass destruction or face attack.

Iraq taunted the United States and Britain over the huge anti-war demonstrations last weekend.

"If they are lobbying for a new resolution to commit new aggression (against Iraq), they are doomed to failure because the whole world is rejecting aggression," Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri told reporters.

Bush played down problems in reaching agreement with Turkey on deploying US forces there for any war against Iraq.

In exchange for Turkish help, the United States is offering Ankara an aid package that includes about $6 billion in grants and up to $20 billion in loan guarantees. So far Turkey has balked at the offering, seeking twice that amount.

"We're working closely with the Turks," said Bush. "We have great respect for the Turkish government. They've had no better friend than the American government, and hopefully we can come up with an agreement that's satisfactory to both parties."

If Turkey carries on dragging its feet, US military planners could go ahead without a northern front. But an attack on Iraq from Turkey would aid a main invasion from the south, possibly shortening any war and reducing American casualties.

The New York Times said senior Bush officials were for the first time openly discussing what could go wrong both during an attack on Iraq and in the aftermath, including concerns that Baghdad could use human shields or explode oil fields.

Oil prices jumped on news that Washington and London were pushing for a new UN resolution that could mean war against Iraq, the world's eighth largest oil exporter. International benchmark Brent crude oil rose 63 cents to $32.55 per barrel, within a dollar of its two-year high of $33.10 hit last week.

(China Daily February 19, 2003)