The U.S. Congress is moving closer to granting President George W. Bush the authority to attack Iraq if he deems it necessary.

Leaders of both parties in the House of Representatives have agreed on the wording of a draft resolution that will likely be approved next week. Now pressure is building for the Senate to get into line.

If the resolution approved by leaders of the House of Representatives is ultimately passed by the whole Congress, Bush will have almost everything he's ever wanted to deal with Saddam Hussein.

George W. Bush

On Wednesday, in the Rose Garden of the White House, with congressional leaders at his side, Bush sent one of his toughest messages yet to Iraq and its people.

"Saddam must disarm. Period. If, however, he chooses to do otherwise, if he persists in his defiance, the use of force may become unavoidable. This course of action may bring many sacrifices, yet delay, indecision and inaction could lead to a massive and sudden horror."

The president said earlier in the week he'd never accept a congressional resolution on attacking Iraq that tied his hands. The Republican Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, said this resolution gives Bush the freedom he wants.

"It supports the president's efforts to work with the United Nations. But it doesn't require him to seek UN approval first. If the president determines he has to act unilaterally to protect American people he can."

Even wording compelling Bush to advise Congress in advance of any attack has an opt-out clause. He can decide to tell Congress as much as 48 hours later.

The House is now almost guaranteed to pass this resolution by the end of next week.

In the Senate, a dwindling number of Democrats still want a resolution strongly encouraging Bush to work with the UN before any attack. But most say they accept the Senate will ultimately approve wording similar to the House proposal.

There are fewer and fewer voices in Congress opposed to what seems to be Bush's collision course with Saddam.

Jim McDermott, a Democratic congressman from Washington, returned Tuesday night from a visit to Baghdad, convinced the U.S. should not rush to war.

"Saddam Hussein is not a nice person. I'm not carrying any brief for him. But I want to disarm him in a diplomatic way, not by going to war," he said.

McDermott and his fellow Democratic legislators who visited Iraq are being called "unpatriotic" and "un-American."