War threat - Blair must counsel Bush wisely

IT would appear to be a welcome development that US President George Bush is to seek UN support for whatever action is to be taken against Iraq.

At least it suggests Mr Bush seems prepared to listen to the opinions of other world leaders, rather than going it alone against Saddam Hussein.

Let us hope that is so. However, his administration is already engaged in convincing the American people that a confrontation with Iraq is inevitable, despite the fact it purports to be in consultation with Britain and other permanent members of the Security Council.

Domestic support for a conflict with Iraq has slipped from 54% less than a month ago, to a current 39% of those surveyed in a recent poll.

Even that low level of support would be forthcoming only if America had the backing of its allies.

Although Iraq has intimated it may allow the return of UN inspectors, Saddam Hussein has unequivocally rejected any suggestion that, if they happen, the inspections would not be open ended or intrusive.

Despite Downing Street's insistence to the contrary, it is difficult not to perceive Tony Blair's meeting with Mr Bush at Camp David tomorrow as anything but revolving around the latter's determination to attack Iraq.

Given their close relationship, hopefully Mr Blair will be able to convince President Bush that the UN is the only route to travel.

Because this is an issue that concerns the international community, not just America.

While Mr Blair is not the voice of Europe to quote German chancellor Gerhard Schroder he also has a nervous British public to placate, so the Prime Minister is influentially placed to dampen Mr Bush's war utterances.

The warning from the Arab League, that an attack on Iraq would "open the gates of hell", is not something to be dismissed lightly as exaggerated rhetoric.