UNITED NATIONS -- When chief U.N. arms inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei finish briefing the Security Council Monday on Iraq's efforts to disarm, President Bush will face perhaps the most momentous decision of his presidency: whether to wage war on Saddam Hussein.
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Under intense pressure from reluctant allies, U.S. officials have signaled that Bush may be willing to allow inspections to continue for a few more weeks, perhaps a month.

But Powell traveled to an international forum in Davos, Switzerland, over the weekend to deliver a stark message: "Time," he warned, "is running out."

Three major scenarios are available to Bush and his foreign policy team, and U.S. officials say that within weeks, not months, they will choose one of them. Inaction, they say, will not be accepted.

The three avenues Bush can take:

1. Going it alone

Bush's most likely decision, in the view of U.N. diplomats, is to assemble what he has called a "coalition of the willing" and attack Iraq without the council's approval. Among the likely U.S. partners: Britain, Australia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria would provide troops and equipment, while friendly states in the region such as Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey would offer basing rights and logistical help.
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2. Diplomatic hardball

Bush's second option is to try to forge a diplomatic consensus on the council and pass a second resolution that would authorize a war. U.S. officials say Bush's promise to consult with allies before taking any action is heartfelt. "Don't underestimate what it means to consult," a senior administration official says. "It is a serious statement."
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3. Creative compromises

Bush's third option is one that dominates hallway discussions in Washington and at the United Nations - a dramatic, last-minute agreement that would either put off a military strike for months or avoid war.

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