The US, Britain and Spain - the coalition of the determined - have given up on diplomacy to deal with Iraq. Powell speaking now - Bush to speak tonight.

An unpopular second resolution for the U.N. Security Council that would have set a firm deadline to disarm will not be tendered, Britain's representative said, noting France's staunch opposition to such a measure.

The White House said not long after the announcement that the "diplomatic window has closed" and that President Bush will address the U.S. Monday evening at 8 p.m. Eastern. Secretary of State Colin Powell will hold a press conference at 10:45 a.m. Eastern.

The 60 United Nations weapons inspectors are expected to shortly leave Iraq. Journalists are also quitting Baghdad on Monday.

The U.S. has by most measures an adequate fighting force to begin a military campaign that would not only unseat the dictator but begin a long-term commitment to Iraq, and the oil-rich region. More mechanized and airborne forces are arriving this week as the U.S. Navy repositions its ships to the Red Sea.

The developments follow a brief meeting on the Azores Islands with heads of government from the U.S., Spain, Portugal and Britain. The meeting provided a stage for Bush to announce that Monday would represent a "moment of truth" and produced a formal measure of what the participants termed "transatlantic solidarity."

In the Mideast, other signs pointed toward a coming conflict. The U.S. State Department gave an order on Sunday evening for nonessential personnel and family to leave Israel, Kuwait and Syria. Germany and Britain have already ordered citizens to leave Iraq. [CBS MarketWatch]

Powell said he still has confidence in the UN - diplomats have to lie sometimes. He just said "this is a test the Security Council did not meet."

Powell just confirmed "the time for diplomacy has past" - he blames the French. He isn't the only one:

British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock singled out France for threatening to veto the resolution, which would have given Iraq an ultimatum to disarm by Monday or face military action.

"We have had to conclude that council consensus will not be possible," Greenstock said, flanked by U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte.

Negroponte said he thought the vote would have "been close."

"We regret that in the face of an explicit threat to veto, the vote-counting became a secondary consideration," Negroponte said.

Moments later, French ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said that in one-on-one consultations in the past hours "the majority of the council confirmed they do not want a use of force." [AP]

UPDATE
NBC News pulling its TV crew from Iraq:

NBC News, concerned that a war with Iraq could be imminent, is removing its six-member television crew from Baghdad, a network spokeswoman said.
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