Closest supporters are split

Tony Blair and George Bush meet tomorrow for talks at Camp David. Both men need to convince some of their closest colleagues before they can persuade the rest of the world to back a war against Iraq.

The President and Prime Minister are being hampered in the search for fresh allies by the fact that senior members of their own cabinets are among those voicing deep unease.

As Saddam Hussein's regime moved into the crosshairs over the past six months, the divide between the hawks and doves has led to confusion and bickering over how Iraq should be dealt with.

In Britain, there are more doves than hawks, inevitably because ministers are drawn from Parliament and are exposed to the bitter opposition to war among grassroots Labour activists and backbenchers, as shown by a poll today in which only four in 100 backed attacks on Iraq.

Doves: for Mr Blair, the most dangerous potential rebel is Robin Cook, the Leader of the Commons. He has not challenged reports that he is unhappy with Britain's support for a US-led war, prompting speculation that he could resign friom the Cabinet.

As a former foreign secretary, Mr Cook could inflict real damage from the backbenches and would make a natural ringleader for the rebels.

More unpredictable is Clare Short, the fiery International Development Secretary. She opposed the original Gulf War and is said by friends to be deeply hostile to President Bush's idea of toppling the Saddam regime.

But though she is has a reputation for being an anti-American dove by instinct, she has held her tongue so far. Her stance will depend on how strong the evidence against Saddam turns out to be.

Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, is also opposed to military intervention and is pressing for caution. But friends say she has no intention of leading a rebellion or quitting the Cabinet.

Hawks: there are no genuine hawks in the British Cabinet to match the likes of Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld. But because the cornerstone of Mr Blair's foreign policy is to maintain the special relationship, several ministers are adopting more gung-ho poses.

Among them is Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, who will take part in next week's special war summit in Washington and is privy to more intelligence about the Iraqi threat than most colleagues.

David Blunkett is also hawkish about Iraq, but fears a war could damage race relations in Britain and even spark public disorder.

Others: Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, is only lukewarm about the war and, like his American counterpart Colin Powell, is desperate for any action to be carried out under the UN.

Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, has been largely silent, leading critics to accuse him of letting Mr Blair swing in the wind. But he will declare his full support for action to contain Saddam shortly, according to Treasury sources.

Alistair Darling, the Transport Secretary, Andrew Smith, at Work and Pensions and Paul Boateng, the Chief Secretary, have no enthusiasm for war but are not seen as troublemakers.

United States

Hawks: In the US, the hawks are in the driving seat - led by a president who keeps Sir Jacob Epstein's bust of Sir Winston Churchill in the Oval Office.

But even George Bush is eclipsed by his hardline vice-president Dick Cheney and the Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, two veterans committed to cracking down on all rogue states which threaten America.

Even more gung-ho is Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Defence Secretary, the most vociferous in calling for the toppling of Saddam Hussein. He is nicknamed "The Velociraptor" (by friends) for proposing "ending states who sponsor terrorism".

The inner-circle member most frequently consulted by President Bush is Condoleezza Rice, his National Security Adviser, a former academic who tutored him on foreign policy.

She usually sides with the hawks, but has also supported the doves in pleading with the president to secure greater international support for his deeds.

Karl Rove, the president's energetic chief political adviser, is a hawk.

Doves: The leading moderate is Colin Powell, the Secretary of State and former army general, who is known to doubt the case for using force against Saddam. He has also disagreed with the others over the Middle East and has forged alliances with Mr Straw and other European foreign ministers in urging caution about expanding the war on terrorism.

He is often supported by the President's chief of staff, Andrew Card, and Paul O'Neill, the Secretary of the Treasury.

Others: President Bush is also infuenced by his father. George Bush Snr is reported to have advised him to gather international support and not attempt to oust Saddam alone.

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