no war in the offing according to Powell

[Michael Eisenstadt]

At a lunch that followed Powell's presentation, diplomats 
said he responded to the French foreign minister's 
concerns about the impact war with Iraq would have on the 
region by saying: "I wasn't talking about war, but about 
strengthening inspections." 

The diplomats said Powell also made clear to Villepin that 
the United States is not ready to go to war immediately, 
and is interested in hearing France's proposals to 
strengthen inspections with the added value of the 
evidence Powell presented. 

(reported by CNN)