The U.S.- proposed resolution Monday gives the United Nations one more chance to do the right thing and enforce its disarmament demands against Iraq.

Although U.S. officials have said that U.N. Resolution 1441, passed Nov. 8, is all the authorization needed to take military action against Iraq, Monday's proposal, done at Britain's urging, was a wise choice for the United States. It points out the United States' preference for U.N. backing and is a sign of respect for the political pressure being felt by our closest ally.

The joint resolution provoked expected opposition from France, Germany and Russia. They submitted an alternative "non-paper" calling for more inspections and a step-by-step plan for Iraq to show compliance. It would take nine of 15 Security Council votes, without a veto, to pass the U.S.-UK-Spanish resolution. Permanent members of the council include France and Russia. France, a major trading partner of Iraq's, has been most opposed to war.

But options for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein continue to narrow. U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix gave Iraq until Saturday to begin destroying its Al Samoud 2 missiles. Their range, exceeding 150 kilometers, violates U.N. limits imposed after the 1991 Gulf War. Iraqi officials objected to giving up missiles with war looming, but refusal to comply would add another "material breach" to Iraq's ever-lengthening record of defiance against U.N. resolutions.

Turkey's Cabinet Monday accepted a U.S. deal offering $5 billion in upfront aid and $10 million in loans in exchange for allowing tens of thousands of U.S. combat troops to be positioned in Turkey for an attack on Iraq from the north. A vote by Turkey's parliament could come as soon as today. Like the U.N. resolution, the deal with Turkey requires U.S. finesse: The Turks want to prevent the Kurds in northern Iraq from forming an independent state on Turkey's southern border; the Kurds vow they will fight Turkey if they think it is trying to grab northern Iraq; and Iran also threatens to jump in if Saddam's rule crumbles.

Which is one more reason the resolution proposed Monday reaffirms the Security Council's commitment to preserve Iraq's territorial integrity.

This Saturday, the date Iraq should begin destroying its missiles, Blix is scheduled to give another progress report on Iraq inspections. The Security Council should settle for nothing less than full compliance.