France, Russia promise veto; U.S. tries to bolster case
Iraq: Nearly half of banned missiles destroyed
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Iraqi women walk past sandbags on Alawi street in Baghdad.
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| PERSPECTIVE |
Actress Jessica Lange, speaking during a news conference by artists delivering anti-war petitions to the United Nations:
"...You can see me as one who is using my celebrity status to take advantage of these forums, or you can see me as a see myself, as a mother, an American mother, who happens to come from the Midwest, who feels that it is my duty to take this opportunity to speak out, and to speak for the people across this country and across the world who do not have the forum to speak out...
"...The people resisting this march to war cut across race, religion, nationalities, political affiliations; It is a universal movement. And the resistance is enormous, and growing more powerful by the hour, because we understand it to be an unjust and immoral war.
"In order for a just war to go forward, there must be sufficient moral authority to proceed. And when the pope and the major U.S. religious leaders disagree with the administration, it has to raise serious doubts about the legitimacy of this war.
"And after months and months of trying to convince the American people and the world that this administration has justification for this unprecedented pre-emptive attack of the magnitude that they have described, they have yet to make their case."
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VIDEO
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Iraqis are preparing for a war against U.S.-led forces, while Baghdad works to head off a second U.N. resolution. CNN's Nic Robertson reports (March 10)
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(CNN) -- With events moving closer to a possible war with Iraq, here is a look at some of the latest developments around the world:
ROAD TO WAR?
• ILLEGAL DRONE, ILLICIT ROCKET: The White House is expected to present information in a U.N. weapons inspector's report -- including details about an Iraqi drone aircraft -- to bolster its case against Baghdad, a senior administration official said Monday. (Full story) Meanwhile, The New York Times is quoting U.S. officials as saying U.N. weapons inspectors have found an Iraqi rocket capable of spreading biological or chemical agents over wide spaces.
• FRENCH AND RUSSIAN VETOES: French President Jacques Chirac said Monday that France would use its U.N. Security Council veto to block a resolution authorizing war against Iraq. "Whatever happens, France will vote 'no'," Chirac said on LCI television in his first televised interview on the Iraq crisis, Reuters reported. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Monday that Russia would also veto the resolution. (Full Story)
• MIDWAY POINT: Iraq approached the approximate midway point of efforts to destroy its Al Samoud 2 missiles, with plans to disable another six Monday, Iraq's Information Ministry said. If confirmed by U.N. weapons inspectors, Iraq will have destroyed 52 of the missiles on orders of the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission. The United Nations estimates that Iraq has 100-120 of the missiles, which it contends can exceed U.N.-imposed limits of 93 miles [150 kilometers].
• PEACE PETITION: Anti-war activists including actors Jessica Lange and Ethan Hawke presented the United Nations with more than 1 million signatures on an international peace petition Monday. The group Win Without War said the delivery to Security Council members was the first step in a week-long, worldwide effort similar to last week's Virtual March on Washington.
WAR OF WORDS
• "There could, effectively, be a majority of nine votes or more for a new resolution, one which would authorize war. If that was the case, then France would vote 'no,' " French President Jacques Chirac said. "France will vote 'no' because she considers tonight that there is no reason to wage a war to reach the goal we set ourselves, that is the disarmament of Iraq."
• "Iraq continues to demonstrate it has not really changed its strategic intent, which is the case we've been making all along," U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said.
• "Russia is openly stating that if that draft of the resolution containing categorical uncultivable demands that was submitted to the U.N. is put on the vote, Russia will vote against it," Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said of the amendment backed by the United States, Spain and Britain that would set a deadline of March 17 for Iraq to disarm. (Full story)
IMPACT
• Fearing retaliation of the worst sort should the United States launch an invasion of Iraq from its soil, Kuwait is escalating its civil defense efforts across several fronts. Health Minister Dr. Mohammed Al-Jaralah announced Monday that the 200 emergency nurses and technicians in Kuwait will be receiving smallpox immunizations. The government has received 100,000 vaccines against the disease. Al-Jaralah said Kuwaiti and American medical teams are collaborating in their preparations, and that a range of medicines is now available at medical centers throughout the country. The Health Ministry also launched a public campaign Monday called "Be Prepared" to increase awareness of emergency procedures and the value of acquiring such household safety items as first-aid kits and fire extinguishers.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
