Last week, he said he is through cooperating with international weapons inspectors and wants the crippling economic sanctions on his country lifted.

A Challenging Task But getting sanctions lifted quickly may be easier said than done.

Iraq has responded to the recent political support from Arab countries by stepping up its campaign to have the sanctions lifted or to undermine them.

The Chinese government has been lobbying to get the sanctions lifted without success.

Russia, China and France want the commission replaced and economic sanctions against Iraq lifted.

It wants the sanctions from 1998 lifted - and there are signs that that is likely to happen.

Only when those conditions are met can Iraq have United Nations sanctions lifted.

The sanctions were suspended, but not lifted, in 1999 after Libya turned over a major suspect in the case.

Mr. Bush wants the sanctions lifted immediately, but many members of the Security Council are resisting.

Maybe a new Gov. and no sanctions would lift them out faster than a bunch of tourists.