Secretary of State Colin Powell today said that Iraq had "failed the test" with its weapons declaration and that the US was ready to wage war, with our without allied backing.
"We will act even if others are not prepared to join us," Mr Powell said in a hard-hitting speech to the World Economic Forum on the eve of a crucial report by UN arms inspectors to the UN Security Council.
He said Baghdad's 12,000-page declaration on its weapons programme had failed to account for growth agents to make biological and chemical weapons as well as "tens of thousands of litres of anthrax" and the toxin that causes botulism.
"Today not a single nation, not one, trusts Saddam and his regime," Mr Powell said. "Iraq attempted to conceal with volume what it lacked in veracity. It has failed the test."
Facing strident opposition to Washington's war plans, Mr Powell also downplayed differences over Iraq with leaders in Europe, where France and Germany have said weapons inspectors need more time.
Tomorrow, chief UN inspectors Mr Hans Blix and Mr Mohamed ElBaradei present a crucial report on the progress of their teams in hunting down Baghdad's alleged weapons of mass destruction.
The US and Britain could use the report to press for military action against Iraq on the grounds of failing to co-operate with the inspectors in line with disarmament Resolution 1441.
Mr Powell said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein continues "to pose a grave danger to international peace and security" and alleged he had links with terror groups including Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
He insisted that the US would "not shrink from war" as US forces continue streaming into the Gulf in a massive military build-up, and said Baghdad's cooperation with UN arms inspectors was "inadequate."
In the Iraqi capital, Saddam's regime matched the rhetoric coming from Washington with a stern warning that US troops would suffer huge losses if an attack goes ahead.
Babel, an official newspaper published by Saddam's eldest son Uday, said the number of dead will be so high that US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair "will not be able to hide it or lie about it."
AFP