Any Excuse will Do

An editorial from the Gulf News summarizes the current US-British stance on Iraq well:

With relentless determination, impervious to international sentiment, Britain and America are increasing the number of troops and equipment being sent to the Gulf region. "Preparedness" they tell everyone, just in case Iraq should be found wanting. Or, put another way, an opportunity to increase the stakes and make it even more likely that there will be a war declared on Iraq. And sooner, rather than later, despite pleas from the UN chief weapons inspectors for more time to undertake their searches.

However, time is running out for the Western duo. They can ill-afford to keep several hundred thousand troops and equipment hovering around the Gulf region - "just in case" - for six months or more, waiting for the opportunity to attack. But then the American president and the British prime minister will not want the war to be held in the summer; for them it is a winter war, or not until later this year, for the logistics of fighting a war in one of the hottest regions on Earth, in the height of summer, is something they would prefer not to contemplate.

So now the American administration and the British prime minister are looking for the opportunity to claim some default by Iraq. Fabricated or otherwise, it is almost a certainty that within the next few weeks, a reason will be found to create an almost impossible situation for Iraq. Thus will follow the cry of "foul" from the UK and the U.S. and the excuse to invade Iraq. For it is obvious that when the American president says "time is running out for Iraq" he really means that he is losing patience and wants to resolve the problem once and for all.

Adam Hochschild of the SF Chronicle tries to figure out what the "excuse" will be.