Skinner Says Iraqis Will Oust Hussein

WASHINGTON —  White House Chief of Staff Samuel K. Skinner said Sunday the economic embargo of Iraq is weakening President Saddam Hussein’s hold over his country and the Iraqi people will succeed in ousting their leader.

But Skinner declined to say whether the United States would assist Iraqi citizens in an uprising or pursue military intervention to depose Hussein.

“The President does not discuss what his options are, nor does he foreclose options on television,” Skinner said in an interview on NBC television’s “Meet the Press.”

Administration officials Friday said the United States is escalating its efforts to remove Hussein and that CIA Director Robert M. Gates is touring the Middle East to press that cause.

Pressed on whether President Bush views military action as an option, Skinner said, “Well, I’m not talking about military operations here. What we’re talking about is . . . economic pressures.”

“Options are options. He has a number of options before him. But right now the embargo is working. We believe that there’s a lot of pressure on him, and we believe that inevitably people in his country will take over,” he said.