UNITED NATIONS - Iraq's troop movements toward Kuwait likely killed any immediate hopes of lifting U.N. sanctions and opened it up to a U.S. charge of breaching the gulf war cease-fire resolution.
U.S. officials are making a case here that Iraq did violate the 1991 resolution - a view that, if adopted, could pave the way for a pre-emptive strike.
Nizar Hamdoon, Iraq's U.N. ambassador, doesn't "see how this could be a breach. There was no hostile action."
Meanwhile, the United States Tuesday saw some signs of a promised retreat by Iraqi forces from Kuwait's border.
"It's a little early yet to reach a final conclusion. We're watching it very closely," President Clinton said.
Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman John Shalikashvili says the U.S. buildup in the gulf may rise to almost 220,000 troops.
"I am not at all prepared yet to say the crisis is over," says Shalikashvili. "There is still an indication of considerable units still remaining."
At the United Nations, the United States is also suggesting creation of a "buffer zone" inside Iraq where Iraqi troops would be forbidden - enforced by U.S. airpower.
Support had been growing to end the economically devastating sanctions on Iraq.
"We had a very good chance of a lifting or easing (sanctions) within six months," says U.N. official Rolf Ekeus.
He says a major requirement of the cease-fire resolution, a long-term weapons monitoring system, was in place.
But Iraq's actions toward Kuwait have stopped talk of ending sanctions.
A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll taken Tuesday finds 74% back Clinton's decision to dispatch more troops. Also:
-- 72% would take action to depose Saddam Hussein.
-- 74% think the gulf war should have continued until Saddam was removed. Only 46% thought so in 1991.
The poll of 625 adults has a 4 point margin of error.
Secretary of State Warren Christopher visits Kuwait today to meet with Arab leaders.
