Whether a touching display of unity or a recognition of realpolitik, Butler's action puts the crisis on a new plane. The U.N., as well as the U.S., has been snubbed. Will Clinton now launch a long-awaited air strike? Not just yet, says TIME State Department correspondent Dean Fischer. In the short term, the administration is going to continue going the diplomatic route. Theyre not likely to mount an attack on Iraq at this stage.
For now, this means going back to the Security Council as Ambassador Bill Richardson will do Thursday afternoon to seek stronger action. The reason for sustaining diplomatic efforts, says Fischer, is that key Gulf War allies like France and Russia still remain opposed to military action. The U.S. will demonstrate to the world that it has exhausted every diplomatic possibility before using force. Then again, there can't be many steps left on that extra mile for peace.