French, Russians Stress Readiness to Veto War Resolution

Ash Wednesday was supposed to be a time of political tradition for German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, a time when politicians pound their opponents with bruising rhetorical punches.

But with the United States pressing to launch a war against Iraq, Fischer tossed aside his schedule and headed to Paris, where he met two European allies in his drive to prevent the war -- French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

When the meeting was over, the French minister indicated that France and Russia were willing to use their resolution-killing veto power in the U.N. Security Council to stop the U.S.-led effort. "We will assume our responsibilities. We are in complete agreement with the Russians," Villepin (photo) said of a possible veto.

Fischer reiterated the German position after the meeting. "We will do everything possible to reach a peaceful solution.... I don't know how you can justify an armed assault."

Later, at a press conference, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Iraq was still had not made the "strategic choice to disarm," but that it still had an opportunity to avoid war. He told reporters that recent US intelligence indicates Iraq is still building al-Samoud type missiles, the very type of missile it has pledged to eliminate from its weapons arsenal.

He warned the U.S. allies' across the Atlantic not to fall prey to Hussein's "veil of deception," and lobby for more time.

"Divisions among us will only convince Saddam Hussein that he is right," he said.

U.S. pushing for U.N. vote

The foreign ministers' meeting was called after the United States announced on Tuesday that it was time for the 15 members on the U.N. Security Council "to stand up and be counted" on a resolution that would authorize a war against the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. In such a showdown, the United States needs nine votes on the 15 member council -- five permanent members and 10 temporary members, including Germany.

The question at hand focuses on two disparate ways to disarm Saddam. The United States, Britian and Spain are pushing for a second resolution that would declare that Saddam had squandered his final opportunity to rid himself of banned weapons. In contrast, Germany, France and Russia have proposed to extend the mission of U.N. weapons inspectors scouring the country for those weapons.

A similar message was delivered to the United Nations this week by a group of 21 members of the European Parliament, the legislative body of the European Union. "It is important to us to tell the people, the United Nations as well, ... that we want the inspectors to have more time," said Lednas Uka, a member of the German Party of Democratic Socialism, the successor to East Germany's communist party.

Key weapons report expected

The next developments in the diplomatic showdown are expected to start falling into place on Friday, when weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed El Baradei make their third report to the Security Council on their work in Iraq.

Powell has said that afterward he will consult with other nations over the weekend. "And then early next week we'll make a judgment on what we have heard and whether it's time to put the resolution up to a vote," Powell said.

One option under serious consideration is for President George W. Bush to give Saddam a final ultimatum, perhaps with a short-term deadline, in an address next week, two senior White House officials told the Associated Press.

Peace groups preparing to march

Despite the diplomatic efforts, the U.S. military and the German peace movement are making their plans for war.

Bush has arrayed a force of nearly 300,000 service members who are ready to launch a land, sea and air invasion of Iraq. The force includes five aircraft carrier battle groups, each with about 50 strike aircraft. A sixth carrier, the Nimitz, is heading to the Persian Gulf to relieve the Abraham Lincoln.

U.S. war planners still hope the Turkish parliament will reverse a decision it made on Saturday and permit the deployment of 62,000 American troops who could invade Iraq from the north.

The German peace force is also assembling its forces for a massive protest to be held on "Day X," the day that a war starts. On the Internet page of the group Netzwerk Friedenskooperative, around 120 events are listed. "The scheduled events are growing exponentially," said Kristian Golla, a spokesman for the group based in Bonn.

The group already has demonstrated its drawing power. On Feb. 15, roughly 500,000 protesters turned out in Berlin as people across Europe demonstrated against the possible war.

In a new survey, 86 percent of respondents in Germany said they opposed any war against Iraq. The survey, conducted for Stern, also found that 83 percent said they thought the United States would attack with or without U.N. support.