Rumsfeld once again laid out the administration's case against Saddam and sounded a warning note that war is drawing nearer -- within weeks, rather than months.

"Clearly, in the case of Iraq, we are nearing the end of a long

road, where every other option has been exhausted," Rumsfeld said. "No one wants war.... Either they will cooperate or they won't. And it won't take months to make that judgment."
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Immediately after a war, if there is one, the U.S. military will have to ensure that all the weapons of mass destruction -- chemical, biological and nuclear materials -- are located and destroyed, maintain Iraq's borders and prevent a "land grab" by Kurdish and Shi'a minorities, and see to it that some level of democratic reform takes place.

"It'll have to be something uniquely Iraqi," Rumsfeld said. "I think, when (Saddam) isn't there an Iraqi advisory element will be constituted."

Iraq experts told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last year that as many as 75,000 American troops will have to remain behind in Iraq.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated last fall that rebuilding and occupation of Iraq could cost the United States as between $1 billion and $4 billion a month, depending on the number of troops involved. Rumsfeld suggested Monday that money from Iraq's vast oil resources will greatly help in reconstruction.

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell suggested in December that protecting the oil fields from Iraqi sabotage will be critical.
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In Iraq Monday, U.S. forces dropped 360,000 leaflets over six cities in southern Iraq listing radio frequencies to listen to for American messages. All of the cities were less than 225 miles from the capital Baghdad. It was the fifth leaflet drop this month.

» United Press International: Rumsfeld: Decision on Iraq soon