It looks like war's just around the corner///
By RON FOURNIER, AP White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON - Forced into a diplomatic retreat, U.S. officials said Thursday that President Bush (news - web sites) may delay a vote on his troubled U.N. resolution or even drop it — and fight Iraq (news - web sites) without the international body's backing. France dismissed a compromise plan as an "automatic recourse to war."
But trouble loomed at every diplomatic turn.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, visiting Bush at the White House, said, "If there is not a resolution, Ireland cannot engage in support of military action, because we work under the U.N. resolution."
Several top administration officials said a growing number of advisers believe the resolution is doomed and they want the president to cut his losses and withdraw it.
By RON FOURNIER, AP White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON - Forced into a diplomatic retreat, U.S. officials said Thursday that President Bush (news - web sites) may delay a vote on his troubled U.N. resolution or even drop it — and fight Iraq (news - web sites) without the international body's backing. France dismissed a compromise plan as an "automatic recourse to war."
But trouble loomed at every diplomatic turn.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, visiting Bush at the White House, said, "If there is not a resolution, Ireland cannot engage in support of military action, because we work under the U.N. resolution."
Several top administration officials said a growing number of advisers believe the resolution is doomed and they want the president to cut his losses and withdraw it.
