Resolution 1441, for all its drama and careful wording, amounts to little more than theatre when we know that U.S. intelligence undoubtedly is aware of what, if any, remnant of weapons of mass destruction Iraq possesses. After all, America is the leading arms dealer of the U.N. permanent five of the Security Council and together they formed the weapons source leading up to and during the Iran-Iraq war. U.S. impatience with the U.N. inspections - despite cooperation by the Iraqi authorities - would seem to underline the charade.

Resolution 1441 was designed to provide U.N. cover and respectability for a war that Bush wants so badly. This cover now seems more and more remote as most other permanent members of the Council remain unconvinced that war is justified.

And now Bush is facing an appreciable turning of the tide with respect to American public opinion against unilateral aggression by Washington. Despite the jingoism of the last 18 months, Americans are questioning the priorities of Bush vis a vis both domestic and foreign affairs - and also questioning the contrast of his diplomatic-dialogue approach to North Korea, with nuclear capacity, and to his aggressive stance towards Iraq without. Angry over the loss of major allies, concerned by the change in public opinion, rejected by U.N. Security Council friends - Bush has become even more dangerous and anxious to take his country to war. Is it patriotism? Or irresponsibility? That is for Americans to determine, just as it should be for Iraqis to determine what is right for their country.