How Embarrassment!

It looks like there will be little international money and even less troops heading for Iraq, even if Colin Powell can swing a new resolution at the UN.

Mr Powell and the Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, told senators this week that the bill for postwar reconstruction in Iraq was expected to run $US55 billion ($83 billion) more than the $US87 billion the President, George Bush, has asked Congress to provide.

During a briefing to senators behind closed doors, Mr Powell and Mr Rumsfeld were asked how thought they could fill the gap.

"They looked at each other and there was sort of an embarrassing pause," a Senate official said. "Powell said maybe we'll get a few hundred million from [the European Union] and maybe a little help from Japan."