Bush rallies troops as Iraq war drums beat

President Bush planned to rally troops at the largest US Army base on Friday as the United States weighs whether to go to war against Iraq, possibly early this year.

Overseeing an intensifying military buildup in the Gulf, Bush was to visit Fort Hood in his home state of Texas as he maintains pressure on President Saddam Hussein.

Bush was travelling a day after warning the Iraqi leader his "day of reckoning is coming," repeating his threat to Saddam to disarm or be ousted from the oil-rich country.

"He will be rallying the troops and expressing his gratitude for their efforts in the war on terrorism," White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said of the visit to Fort Hood in central Texas.

Bush has linked his anti-terror campaign to Baghdad despite failing to produce concrete evidence of Iraqi involvement in attacks against the United States.

Nearing the end of a 10-day winter break at his Texas ranch, Bush said he still has not made a decision to attack Iraq. But signs such as his cancellation of a January trip to Africa and the troops' preparation have prompted many military analysts to predict he will order an attack.

While US officials say they could fight any time, an invasion after February would be more difficult because of heat that could be especially debilitating if troops wear cumbersome suits to protect against chemical weapons.

More than 11,000 desert-trained US troops are set to head for the Gulf for the possible war to force Saddam to abandon any nuclear, biological or chemical weapons programs.

Early orders for troop deployments from the United States have apparently not involved Fort Hood, the largest domestic US Army base and home to about 40,000 soldiers and the 3rd Armored Corps, which contains many of the Army's tanks and fighting vehicles.

On Thursday, Bush said there was little evidence the Iraqi leader would avoid war and disarm peacefully.

"For 11 long years the world has dealt with him, and now he's got to understand his day of reckoning is coming and therefore he must disarm voluntarily," Bush told reporters. "Hopefully he realises we're serious."

The UN Security Council passed a resolution in November demanding Iraq give a full account of its weapons programs and cooperate with weapons inspectors, as required by resolutions stemming from the 1991 Gulf War, or face tough consequences.

AP adds: Iraq said Thursday it has cooperated with UN inspectors and that they have found no weapons of mass destruction in five weeks of searching, so their crucial report to the UN Security Council this month should favour Baghdad.

The inspectors, however, said it's too soon to draw conclusions about whether Iraq has complied with UN demands - as it must to avoid war with the United States.

The government-controlled Iraqi press also reproached the Security Council for tightening controls on imports to the country, saying council members were following the dictates of Washington and furthering "the mad US attempts to wage aggression on Iraq.

"Gen. Hossam Mohammed Amin, Iraq's chief liaison to the UN inspectors, said the inspections so far - visits to 237 sites in five weeks - gave credence to Baghdad's assertion it has no more banned weapons.