From the NY Times:
I had a feeling that Tony Blair would start putting the brakes on things, because at home, he's in deep doodoo.
By TIMOTHY L. O'BRIEN
UNITED NATIONS, March 11 ? The United States dropped its plans to seek a Security Council vote today on a draft resolution that would open the door to a military strike against Iraq, but the White House insisted that it would secure a vote this week even as support for its position appeared to be withering.
Britain, the United States' staunchest ally in its campaign to disarm Iraq, has begun to distance itself from the White House's insistence on confronting Baghdad with or without the United Nations' blessing. France and Russia said unequivocally on Monday that they planned to veto the draft resolution if and when a vote occurred.
While France and Russia have become familiar opponents of the United States in the Iraq debate, the possibility of a shift by Britain presages an even thornier diplomatic path ahead for the White House. Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain has come under strong domestic criticism of his support for the United States, criticism that has undermined his popularity and threatens the viability of his government.
In response, the British are now adopting a more temperate posture toward Iraq. Diplomats here say that Britain is hesitant to support military action against Iraq without United Nations backing and that it does not support the White House's advocacy of "regime change" in Baghdad to overthrow the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"In the U.K., because of the political situation there, there's a strong desire to keep the U.N. involved in the process, and I think the White House recognizes that," said Catherine Mackenzie, a spokeswoman for the British Mission to the United Nations.
The United States budged a bit itself today, agreeing to extend a proposed disarmament deadline for Baghdad beyond March 17. Nonetheless, the White House rejected a 45-day delay sought by six of the Security Council's 15 members who have yet to indicate which way they would vote on the draft resolution.
"There is room for diplomacy here," Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, said today at a news briefing. "Not much room and not much time."
I had a feeling that Tony Blair would start putting the brakes on things, because at home, he's in deep doodoo.