Iraqi President Saddam Hussein must leave his country within 48 hours or a military conflict will "commence at the time of our choosing," according to President Bush. In an internationally televised address last night, Bush said the time for using diplomacy to deal with Iraq has ended and "the United States has the sovereign authority to use force in assuring its national security."

Yesterday, the United States, Britain and Spain chose to withdraw a U.N. Security Council resolution following a Sunday summit in the Azores. "The diplomatic window has closed as a result of the U.N.'s failure to enforce its own resolutions for Saddam to disarm," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters.

"The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities so we will rise up to ours," Bush said in last night's speech. He criticized "some members of the Security Council" for pledging to veto any U.S.-backed resolution placed before the Council. Sunday, French President Jacques Chirac had told CNN his country was prepared to use its veto power to block a resolution that would lead to war.

While Bush said war could be averted if Hussein would leave Iraq within 48 hours, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri ruled out this possibility yesterday. Sabri suggested Bush resign instead. Hussein told an Iraqi state news agency "not even 10 Americas will be able to separate the people of Iraq away from their land, rights, freedom, independence and sovereignty."

In his speech, Bush said domestic terror threats could rise following his ultimatum to Hussein. Therefore, the Department of Homeland Security has raised the domestic terror alert status from yellow to orange, or "high." Bush said, however, that "if our enemies dare to strike us, they and all who have aided them will face fearful consequences."

Should the United States go to war with Iraq, British and Australian troops will join their American counterparts. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, yesterday Australian Prime Minister John Howard declared his cabinet has decided to commit troops already deployed in the Persian Gulf to war with Iraq, despite opposition from 71 percent of Australian voters.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has committed British troops to war, despite opposition from his Labor Party. Robin Cook, a cabinet minister and government leader of the House of Commons, resigned yesterday, citing disagreement with Blair's stance on Iraq. "Neither the international community nor the British public are persuaded that there is an urgent and compelling reason for this action in Iraq," he told parliament.

Following Cook's remarks, members of parliament rose to give him a standing ovation. Other Labor cabinet members, including International Development Secretary Claire Smart, have also threatened to resign.

Today, Turkey's cabinet will discuss a proposal that would allow coalition troops to attack Iraq from Turkish soil in the event of war. Earlier this month, the Turkish parliament rejected a measure that would have allowed 62,000 U.S. troops to be based in Turkey.

Due to the threat of war, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan ordered more than 350 U.N. workers, including weapons inspectors and relief aid workers to evacuate Iraq. "This does not mean that should war come to Iraq that the U.N. will sit back and not to do anything to help the Iraqi situation," Annan said.

In his speech, Bush directly addressed the Iraqi people. "Many Iraqis can hear me tonight in a translated radio broadcast ... If we must begin a military campaign," he said, "it will be directed against the lawless men who rule your country and not you." He added that coalition members will deliver food and medicine to the people and a "free and prosperous" Iraq will be built following the conflict.

While most Europeans remain unsupportive of Bush's plans to fight Iraq without a U.N. resolution, the American public is sharply divided over the issue. According to a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll, approximately 50 percent of Americans support military action against Iraq without U.N. approval and 50 percent do not support an attack in that case.