The report by United Nations Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix disappointed some on Capital Hill Friday. Blix says Iraq has presented credible evidence that banned weapons don't exist there.
This has stolen some of the thunder from U.S. claims Iraq poses an international threat.
Political Scientist Jeff Leigh says he thinks the U.S. is in a tougher position now than before. He says the U.S. will have to agree to give weapons inspectors more time, which will be seen as backing down, or risk damaging relationships with other nations by going to war without U.N. support.
"If you damage your relationships with any or possibly the majority of these nations," Leigh said, "then you certainly harm the U.S. ability to sell the products overseas."
Leigh says if the United States needs to improve its image to the rest of the international community. He says that working with the United Nations and showing that it values consensus with the other countries might be one way of accomplishing that.
