1.   A second legal issue is whether Clinton may authorize military force on his own without congressional authorization.

2.   A Security Council resolution authorizing the force and giving it international legitimacy is likely to be passed at the United Nations later this week, he said.

3.   But the same resolution also authorizes military force in the event of its violation.

4.   But the resolution authorizes the force for only three months.

5.   On Wednesday, Al-Kidwa drew a distinction between authorizing a force and actually trying to put it in place, which would obviously need Israeli cooperation.

6.   The result was a U.N. Security Council Resolution that fell just short of specifically authorizing force.

7.   The result was a Security Council resolution Thursday that fell just short of specifically authorizing force.

8.   The size and makeup of the international force will be decided after the U.N. Security Council adopts a resolution on Thursday authorizing the force.

9.   Under the NATO charter, a vote to authorize force is the last in a series of steps needed before the alliance can undertake military action.

10.   Permanent council members Russia and China have flatly objected to any military intervention in Kosovo, and could veto any resolution specifically authorizing force.