President George Bush's own Methodist church has launched a scathing attack on his preparations for war against Iraq, saying they are 'without any justification according to the teachings of Christ'.        

Jim Winkler, head of social policy for United Methodists, added that all attempts at a 'dialogue' between the President and his own church over the war had fallen on deaf ears at the White House.  

His remarks came as the US continued its efforts to achieve agreement on a UN resolution that would open the way for a tough program of weapons inspections in Iraq. France is believed to be concerned that the current draft resolution might still act as a trigger for military intervention without a full Security Council debate if Iraq fails to comply.

Oct. 21, 2002 – Bush discusses Iraq with reporters in a joint Oval Office photo op with NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson:

 
“Q Why you threaten military action against Iraq, but you believe that Korea's nuclear weapons program only merits diplomatic efforts?

THE PRESIDENT: Saddam Hussein is unique, in this sense: he has thumbed his nose at the world for 11 years. The United Nations has passed 16 resolutions to deal with this man, and the resolutions are all aimed at disarmament, amongst other things. And for 11 years, he said, no, I refuse to disarm.    

    Now, what makes him even more unique is the fact he's actually gassed his own people. He has used weapons of mass destruction on neighboring countries and he's used weapons of mass destruction on his own citizenry. He wants to have a nuclear weapon. He has made it very clear he hates the United States and, as importantly, he hates friends of ours.  

    We've tried diplomacy. We're trying it one more time. I believe the free world, if we make up our mind to, can disarm this man peacefully.”

Oct 23, 2002 – U.S. Trade Representative and PNAC signatory Robert Zoellick claims that U.S. oil prices may drop in the event of a war with Iraq. “If there is such a conflict and they see the outcome as regime change, then they might expect that Iraq will become a more active producer, in which prices could be coming down. That is what markets are about.”

 
In actuality, of course, oil prices will rise with the war, as other observers predicted, and continue rising to historically high levels afterward. Iraqi oil production as of 2008 still does not return to prewar levels.

Oct. 25, 2002 – Bush discusses Iraq with reporters in a joint photo op in Crawford, Texas, with Chinese President Jiang Zemin:

 
“In our meeting, we discussed the threat posed by the Iraqi regime. China supports Iraq's strict compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions. And today we discussed, and I urged President Jiang, to support a new Security Council resolution demanding Iraq fully disarm itself of weapons of mass destruction.”

Oct. 29, 2002 – Another column from George F. Will, “Fowl Cries from the U.N.,” disparages the U.N. and Americans who want to get a U.N. resolution against Saddam. (Washington Post A21)