During the Clinton years, when Saddam perceived zero military threat against him, he did nothing in terms of cooperating with the United Nations.

The ONLY reason Saddam Hussein has been pretending to make even a token effort to comply with UN Security Council resolutions is because the allies have about 300,000 troops stacked against his borders.

The French, who say inspections are working, have vowed to veto any new resolution which contains a formula for using military force.

But if the military option is removed, then Saddam would - properly - see this as a big bluff and, under the protection of France, continue to operate the way he has.

A negotiation requires a willingness by all the parties involved to give each others' proposals serious consideration.

When France announced its opposition - EVEN BEFORE IRAQ OBJECTED - to the proposal brought forth by Tony Blair's government it was a clear signal that further negotiations at the UN were, at a minimum, silly and, at a maximum, dangerous to coalition forces.

Chirac has no interest in any agreement for which any country but France will get credit.

Chirac now sees himself as the most powerful French leader since Charles de Gaulle and, like de Gaulle, will make any ally pay any price to protect his own self-image.

"I was the guy that said they ought to vote. And one country voted - at least showed their cards, I believe. It's an old Texas expression, 'show your cards,' when you're playing poker. France showed their cards. After I said what I said, they said they were going to veto anything that held Saddam to account. So cards have been played. And we'll just have to take an assessment after tomorrow to determine what that card meant."