Let us give UN a chance – GMA

As US and British forces move within striking distance of Iraq, President Arroyo renewed her appeals yesterday to the United States to give the United Nations more time to try and resolve the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

However, she also repeated her call for Iraq to dismantle its alleged weapons of mass destruction.

"In the situation in Iraq, peace is still the best option and its leader must fulfill his obligation to the human race in order to attain long-lasting peace," Mrs. Arroyo said in her weekly radio address, referring to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

She also took the opportunity to reiterate her administration’s position to support US military action on Iraq only if authorized by the United Nations.

"Peace is a policy for our country’s internal and external security," she said. "Our countrymen now have strongly expressed their desire for peace and we agree to this."

In an interview with reporters later in the day, Mrs. Arroyo refused to comment on a proposal by UN chief Kofi Annan for a summit of "interested" world leaders to search for a compromise on the crisis.

"Let’s give the UN process (time) to take its course," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo has run into domestic opposition for supporting US calls for Iraq to destroy its weapons of mass destruction, which Washington accuses Baghdad of possessing in violation of a United Nations resolution.

Mrs. Arroyo has been the most vocal Asian leader in supporting US calls for Iraq to disarm as well as the US-led global war on terrorism.

If Washington goes to war without UN authorization, Mrs. Arroyo will convene a national security meeting to determine what position her government should take.

The Arroyo administration believes that war will begin in a matter of days after US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone said Bush was not inclined to extend a deadline for Baghdad to disarm.

The United States gave Iraq until tomorrow to fully disarm or be disarmed by force.

Washington warned it could go to war alone if the United Nations Security Council fails to resolve the diplomatic deadlock.

Diplomatic wrangling has centered around the French and Russian refusal to put their names to any resolution allowing the United States to unleash its military might against Iraq before weapons inspections have run their course.

American B-2 stealth bombers were deployed to bases closer to Iraq and about 15 cruise missile-firing warships were ordered to the Red Sea, signs that key weapons were moving into striking positions, US defense officials said.

Both the B-2 bombers and sea-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles are typically used to open an air assault on heavily defended enemy targets.

The planes represent a potent weapon — able to carry up to 16 satellite-guided 2,000 pound bombs or eight 5,000-pound bunker buster bombs.

It is the only US warplane equipped to deliver the GBU-37 "bunker buster," which has a hardened nose and can bore through 20 to 30 feet of rock or reinforced concrete before detonating.

The B-2’s mission is to penetrate heavily defended territory and "kick down the door" on the opening night of conflict. The main targets would be leadership bunkers, command centers, radars, airfields and air defenses.

Many of the 26 US surface combat ships in the Gulf and 17 in the Mediterranean are capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The satellite-guided Tomahawks have a range of 1,600 kilometers and are designed to fly below enemy radar to avoid detection.