U.S. Says It Can Bypass U.N. on Iraq "The White House said it would be "not very hard at all" to assemble an alliance to confront Saddam Hussein without the United Nations, a clear signal that President Bush's patience with the international organization is reaching its limits. As France, Russia, Mexico and other allies seek to water down his zero-tolerance approach to Iraq, Bush on Saturday renewed his call for the U.N. to confront Saddam or stand aside while the United States acts."