President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair say Iraq has "weeks, not months" to meet United Nations resolutions to fully cooperate with U-N weapons inspections and disarm.
In a joint White House news conference (Friday), the two leaders said they would welcome another U-N resolution if it sends a strong signal that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein that he must disarm.
But President Bush said the United States would resist any attempts to drag out the issue for months.
Mr. Blair said eliminating Iraq's weapons of mass destruction is a challenge for the international community, and he said time is running out for a peaceful solution.
President Bush says the Iraqi leader has engaged in deception since being ordered to disarm following the 1991 Gulf War. He said that deception is continuing with Iraq's latest offer for U-N weapons inspectors to return before issuing their next report.
Mr. Bush says U-S Secretary of State Colin Powell will make a strong case to the U-N Security Council on Wednesday that Baghdad is trying to fool the world. The president says Secretary Powell will also discuss Saddam Hussein's suspected links to al-Qaida terrorists.
Prime Minister Blair says the threats posed by international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction are linked and must be dealt with before they come together in deadly form. He says terror networks will use any means possible to cause maximum death and destruction.
President Bush told reporters that the September 11th terror attacks against the United States taught him that strategies to contain Saddam Hussein do not work.
The two Western leaders have vowed to lead a coalition to disarm Iraq if Baghdad does not cooperate with U-N inspection teams. Before meeting with President Bush, Mr. Blair told reporters he believes any military action must be approved by a U-N resolution authorizing military force. However, President Bush says the current U-N resolution is sufficient authority to take action.