NEW YORK, 26 September 2003 — A resolute speech and two days of personal diplomacy by President George W. Bush are failing to soften resistance to his postwar strategy for Iraq, and a US resolution designed to bring fresh peacekeeping troops and financial support remains stalemated.
Resistance from other nations is so stiff that Bush did not solicit contributions from the leaders of France, Germany, India and Pakistan and none was volunteered. Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the possibility of Turkish peacekeepers with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul — without getting a clear commitment.
Administration officials had hoped to reach a consensus on the US resolution before Bush spoke Tuesday to the General Assembly. But work was halted, and while talks have resumed, a senior US official acknowledged Wednesday it may take a month to work out a solution.
In Washington, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace said the Pentagon is considering a call-up of more reserves, with a decision likely in four to six weeks.
There are 130,000 American troops in Iraq, supported by a few thousand peacekeepers from Britain, Poland and other supporting countries.
Administration officials had hoped to raise 10,000 to 15,000 troops from other nations. One goal of the resolution was to induce Muslim countries to help out by giving peacekeeping efforts the UN stamp of approval.
Bush will have a chance this weekend to lobby Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.
