THE US: The Security Council faces a battle royal over Iraq this week, with the issue of the Middle East complicating US efforts to get a tough new resolution through the 15-member body backing up UN arms inspections with the threat of military force.
Underlining its determination to confront Baghdad whatever the outcome, White House officials revealed at the weekend that the Pentagon had delivered to President Bush a detailed set of military options for attacking Iraq. However, the US administration has seen its whirlwind efforts at the UN to win international approval for war through diplomacy derailed by the widespread welcome for Iraq's surprise decision to admit weapons' inspectors.
Washington is also clearly exasperated at events in the Occupied Territories where Israeli action has ignited a wave of anger in Arab countries the US is courting for support over Iraq.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's pleaded with Mr Bush at the weekend to intervene immediately to stop the Israeli operation. In a rare criticism of Israel, the White House said "Israel's actions in and around the [Arafat compound] are not helpful in reducing terrorist violence or promoting Palestinian reforms." While also condemning Palestinian suicide bombings, White House spokeswoman Ms Jeanne Mamo said: "We urge Israel to continue considering the consequences of its actions."
The Security Council will spend today debating the Middle East and the US struggle for a new resolution on Iraq will continue on the periphery and in world capitals. Washington needs a majority of nine with no veto to pass the text it is currently working on with London.
Along with the UK and the US, the three other permanent members, Russia, France and China have a veto and it is unlikely that any text would be submitted if a veto was likely. If Russia and France abstain on a US-UK resolution threatening military force, there would be enormous US pressure on the 10 elected members, including Ireland. Dublin's decision on whether to abstain or support the text would be decided at Cabinet level.
A US-UK text is not expected to emerge until tomorrow at the earliest, and diplomatic sources said the US might even abandon its quest for a new resolution if there was not sufficient "convergence" in the views of the five permanent members.
Strains between the US and the UN have been exacerbated by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's high-risk strategy of persuading Iraq through other Arab countries to agree to accept weapons inspectors back "without" conditions on the basis of a 1999 resolution, in order to prevent war. US officials have expressed their displeasure to Mr Annan that he did not win agreement for "unfettered access" for UN inspectors.
As the diplomacy intensifies, a consensus has begun to emerge among Pentagon war planners that the US should conduct a narrowly focused but extremely intense attack that will be radically different from the 1991 Persian Gulf War, according to yesterday's Washington Post. On Saturday US officials revealed that the Pentagon has delivered to President Bush a detailed set of options for using military force to remove Saddam Hussein and neutralise his weapons of mass destruction. The classified plan was prepared by Gen Tommy Franks, the head of Central Command, who would lead any war against Iraq. US troops would be ready to strike six to nine weeks after getting the order from Mr Bush, according to military officials.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is said to be pressing Gen Franks to launch an invasion based on fast-moving units and relying heavily on special operations troops.
A prime target would be Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, with a 50,000 population, 100 miles north of Baghdad.
The latest Pentagon plan is clearly aimed at forcing a rift between Saddam Hussein and the rank-and-file Iraqi armed forces. Unlike the 1991 war, Iraq's infrastructure and military would not be targeted. Instead Saddam Hussein and the people and institutions that keep him in power would be the subject of simultaneous attacks by air and land.
On a visit to US troops in Kuwait, Gen Franks said his forces were ready if called upon, but "our President has not made a decision to go to war". Thousands of US and Kuwaiti forces are reportedly preparing to begin a large-scale training exercise in several days called "Eager Mace", in preparation for a likely strike from Kuwait.