Clinton Plays Hardball On Iraq

Moving closer to a potential showdown with Iraq, President Clinton said Friday that Russia's objections to military strikes will not stop U.S. military forces from attacking.

Moscow has urged the Clinton administration to avoid military action against its longtime ally, calling U.S. policy "uncompromising."

Clinton said he understands Russia's concerns and said the U.S. is exhausting every possible diplomatic route. But, he added, "We don't believe it is acceptable, if diplomacy fails, to walk away."

For different reasons, both Russia and Israel are asking that the U.S. delay any military action in the Persian Gulf.

Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov says the search for a diplomatic solution to the Iraq crisis should not end before U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has visited Baghdad.

Speaking to reporters Friday after meeting U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen, Primakov said the time was right for such a trip and added: "Russia believes one cannot talk about failed diplomatic efforts or reach a verdict before Kofi Annan goes to Baghdad himself."

Meanwhile, in Israel, Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai is asking the U.S. to delay a military strike against Iraq until the Jewish state is fully prepared for a possible Iraqi attack with non-conventional weapons.

Israel is equipping its residents with gas masks and preparing kits with antidotes, just in case Saddam Hussein fires missiles with biological or chemical weapons.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said earlier this week that Baghdad has no intention of attacking Israel, even if Iraq is targeted by the U.S.

But Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he would not rely on Iraqi promises. The U.S. has promised to defend Israel.

In other developments:

• Before Cohen left Russia for the U.S. Friday, he and Defense Minister Marshal Igor Sergeyev patched up a public quarrel. Sergeyev had pointedly criticized Cohen for the "uncompromising" American attitude toward Iraq. In response, Cohen said Russia's "so-called compromises" were unlikely to end the standoff between the U.N. and Iraq over weapons inspections.
• Cohen's conclusion: "This is a perfect example of how we can have disagreements on various issues, but our relationship is one that transcends any specific issue."
• President Boris Yeltsin and other top Russian leaders have been highly critical of the U.S. threat to strike against Iraq.
• Sergeyev's stern remarks Thursday marked the first time the Russians made such public comments face-to-face with a senior American official.

  ©1998 CBS Worldwide Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report