Making His Case

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It would help Bush's argument if he didn't seem to be the only world leader making it. In his address to the U.N. this week, Bush plans to sound a more internationalist theme than the world has heard from him in a long while. White House officials say Bush will not initially ask for a new resolution from the Security Council. Instead, by listing the ways in which Saddam has flouted its will, Bush is expected to challenge the U.N. to defend its credibility. "He's going to be very blunt," says an aide. "He's going to say 'Your credibility is at stake. You have to decide whether you're relevant.'" One possible option: Bush may set a deadline for Iraq to comply with existing U.N. resolutions.

Ultimately, though, Administration officials concede that Bush will probably have to call for--and do the hard diplomatic work that it takes to win--a new U.N. resolution that gives him the authorization to act. He will need the world's backing for the same reason that he had to turn to Congress for support despite his White House counsel's view that he already has the legal and constitutional authority to launch an attack on his own. Bush's executive experience may have persuaded him to set a goal, but his political skills are what it will take to achieve it. Consensus building may be a time-consuming task, but it is a necessary one before a democracy declares war. --With reporting by Massimo Calabresi, James Carney, John F. Dickerson and Douglas Waller/Washington