The Problem : Once again President Saddam Hussein of Iraq is shaping up for head-on confrontation with the United Nations over weapons inspections. Iraq has suspended co-operation with UN inspectors seeking to find prohibited chemical and other weapons, and this week threatened to halt all inspections, including monitoring of sites which already have been identified as having prohibited arms. He wants a greater prospect of UN sanctions on his country being lifted.

The Solution : US officials have not ruled out the use of force against Iraq to make it comply. The US Secretary of State, Ms Madeleine Albright, last week said all options, including military force against Baghdad, were still on the table. As in the Balkans, a credible threat of military action is the only thing likely to influence Iraq. A US solo run could alienate other states in the region, as well as France and other EU member-states. A patient US campaign, run by a credible US president, to build an international coalition behind such action is required if it is to be effective.