US Vice-President Mr Dick Cheney refused to rule out the use of nuclear weapons in Iraq if US forces are attacked with chemical weapons, and claimed that US troops would be welcomed as liberators in an invasion, writes Conor O'Clery in New York
Mr Cheney also made clear there was nothing Saddam Hussein could now do to avoid war and stay in power, even if he "coughed up" weapons of mass destruction, and he dismissed French President Jacques Chirac's call for a 30-day extension of inspections as a "non-starter".
"There is no question we are close to the end, if you will, of diplomatic efforts," he said. "Clearly, the President is going to have a difficult and important decision in the next few days." Asked by Tim Russert on ABC's Meet the Press if the US would use nuclear weapons if Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against US forces, Mr Cheney replied: "I can't say how we would respond, Tim." The US had "overwhelming capabilities" and it was US policy "to reserve the right to use any means" at its disposal if attacked with weapons of mass destruction, he said.
Even if President Saddam were to deliver up immediately his alleged stocks of banned weapons the US would "have to assume that tomorrow he'd be back again" making weapons of mass destruction, Mr Cheney said, in a drumbeat of statements from the administration preparing Americans for war.
If the Iraqi leader stayed in power, the US would have to assume that Saddam Hussein would be back again "recasting his nuclear programme".
Mr Cheney claimed that American troops "will in fact be greeted as liberators in Iraq because of the "hatred and animosity" of people for Saddam Hussein. The American objective "is to get rid of his government and put a new one in its place."
He believed the regular army would not put up a fight and if US troops got into a battle for Baghdad only the Republican Guard "might put up a struggle" and many would "step aside".
Mr Cheney dismissed arguments that Washington had lost the PR battle internationally. "The United States and the President have been forced to come to grips with issues that our allies today have not come to grips with," he said, referring to the post-September 11th situation where a few terrorists could kill millions of Americans.
He repeated the non-proven contention, disputed by many US allies, of a link between President Saddam and Osama bin Laden. "We know Saddam Hussein has a long-standing relationship with various terrorist groups including the al-Qaeda organisation." Meanwhile the New York Times reported yesterday that the Bush administration had identified nine senior Iraqi officials, including President Saddam and his two sons who would be tried for war crimes or crimes against humanity after a successful invasion. US officials planned to send the list to Baghdad with a delegation from the Arab League on Friday to induce the leaders to leave but the trip was called off.
President Bush set the tone for war in his weekly radio address on Saturday, telling listeners bluntly: "There is little reason to hope that Saddam Hussein will disarm" without the use of force. "Crucial days lie ahead for the free nations of the world.
"Governments are now showing whether their stated commitments to liberty and security are words alone - or convictions they're prepared to act upon." US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell said on CNN yesterday that foreign journalists and other nationals should consider leaving Baghdad not just because of the dangers of an attack but also because Saddam could take them hostage.
The latest opinion poll showed growing support for war among US voters. Some 78 per cent of people support war with UN backing and 54 per cent even without UN backing according to a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll published yesterday.