NEW YORK -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's forceful presentation to the U.N. Security Council failed to convince key council members of the need for an immediate war against Iraq. Concern for the consequences of another conflict in the region could possibly explain France, China and Russia's reluctance to authorize an attack.
Iraq has experienced two grueling wars in the recent past -- war with Iran in the 1980s and the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis were killed in these conflicts, most of them civilians or youngsters forcibly conscripted for military service.
A new war would seriously undermine Iraq's already weakened health-care infrastructure and lead to the suffering and death of huge numbers of civilians.