MORE TUNE-CHANGING ON THE UN?

...this time from the LA Times:

WASHINGTON -- France and Russia declared Monday that they would veto a resolution authorizing war against Iraq, forcing the United States to put off a Security Council vote while searching for a compromise that would salvage the proposal.

With 300,000 troops massing in the Middle East, the U.S., Britain and Spain were still unable to muster a majority of the council members to back a March 17 deadline for Iraq to disarm or be invaded. The Bush administration still hopes to have a vote this week.

And thanks to Wright and Farley, the two LAT staffers who wrote this piece, we have come to the curious third incarnation of the exact same story. The first two came from the Associated Press: First, AP led by saying the US failed to get the 9 votes necessary to approve a 2nd UN resolution. Second, AP led the exact same story by saying that the lack of votes "forced" the US to delay a vote. Not a word, of course, about Bush's "show their cards" comment last thursday. And part three? The reason for the US delay of the vote suddenly isn't the lack of votes for passage, according to the lead paragraph of the Times piece. Rather, the veto capabilities of France and Russia come into play! Suddenly it's the wine-making, Jerry Lewis-loving, cheese-making surrender monkeys fault! With an assist from those oft-suspected closeted reds from Moscow! Nevermind Bush backing down on his tough talk! We have an international narrative to prop up!