UNWOBBLING:

Bush Says He Will Lead Coalition Against Iraq (Ron Fournier, Oct 26, 2002, The Associated Press)

Increasing pressure on skeptical allies, President Bush said Saturday the United States will lead a coalition against Iraq if the United Nations does not pass a strong resolution to disarm Saddam Hussein.

The White House said it would be "not very hard at all" to assemble an alliance without U.N. help, a clear signal that Bush's patience with the international organizations is reaching its limits as France, Russia, Mexico and other allies seek to water down his zero-tolerance approach to Iraq.

"If the U.N. does not pass a resolution which holds him to account and that has consequences, then, as I have said in speech after speech after speech, if the U.N. won't act - if Saddam Hussein won't disarm - we will lead a coalition to disarm him," Bush said.

I'll bet a box of donuts that if you check the conservative rags (Weekly Standard, National Review, etc.) today you'll find at least one essay from this week whining about how George W. Bush is wavering dangerously on the issue of removing Saddam from power. Posted by Orrin Judd at October 26, 2002 4:57 PM