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US leaders expressed frustration Wednesday at European-led opposition to a military strike against Iraq as the top US general said the United States can sustain a major force in the Gulf for several months if needed.

President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell led the offensive against French and German opposition to conflict.

Bush said the evidence was "incredibly troubling and disturbing" and demanded Baghdad be held to account while Powell questioned whether France and Germany were serious about disarming Iraq.

"Saddam Hussein is not disarming like the world has told him he must do," Bush said in a speech in Saint Louis, Missouri. "He's a dangerous man with dangerous weapons. He's a danger to America and our friends and allies."

Bush, who has also rebuked France and Germany for their positions, said Saddam was using "lessons from the past" to thwart UN inspectors.

"He asked for more time so he can give the so-called inspectors more runaround. He's interested in playing hide-and-seek in a huge country. He's not interested in disarming," he said.

"I hope the world has learned the lessons from the past just like Saddam Hussein. It's time for us to hold the world to account and for Saddam to be held to account."

The president also warned Iraqi military officers they would face war crimes trials if they attack US troops or their own people with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

Powell said comments from his French and German counterparts at the United Nations this week had hindered the efforts to disarm Baghdad.

The United States was angered after French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said there was no justification for war at the moment and that UN weapons inspectors should be allowed to finish their work.

Germany has said it will not support conflict with Iraq under any circumstances.

French President Jacques Chirac said at a joint appearance with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Paris that the two nations "have the same judgement on the Iraq crisis" and that "everything must be done to avoid war."

Powell said France and Germany appeared to be pre-judging a report due Monday from weapons inspectors to the Security Council by deciding in advance that the inspections were working and should be allowed to go on.

"It's almost as if people want to make a decision before the 27th," Powell said in comments released by the State Department.

"I mean, what they said is we should let this process continue but it's not clear to me how long they want it to continue or whether they're serious about bringing it to a conclusion at some time," he said.

Powell said he was particularly concerned that de Villepin had undermined the focus of the council's anti-terrorism meeting Monday by saying there was nothing to justify a military strike against Iraq.

Powell said he had a "candid and honest forthright exchange of views" with the French minister Tuesday.

Bush has threatened to lead a coalition without UN approval if necessary to disarm Iraq.

General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the United States could maintain a major force in the Gulf for several months while the diplomatic battle goes on.

"My estimate is we can do that for some time -- several months no problem," Myers said. "I don't think in the near term there is any big impact on the force."

Tens of thousands of US combat troops as well as warplanes, aircraft carriers and other warships have been ordered to the Gulf in preparation for possible war.

The United States put 20,000 additional reservists on active duty in the past week, the Defense Department said.

More than 150,000 troops are on track to be in place by mid-February, giving Bush the option of an invasion before the searing summer heat sets in.

Myers said it gets "brutally hot during the day, particularly if you are confronted with weapons of mass destruction -- chemical or biological weapons -- and you have to put on your protection suits."

But he added that Central Command chief General Tommy Franks, responsible for US troops in the Gulf, and other senior generals had decided "there is no doubt that no matter what time of year, we can fight and we can prevail in that kind of environment."

Myers said the Iraqi military -- with 23 divisions, including the well-trained Republican Guards -- remains a credible force, albeit weaker than the one US forces drove from Kuwait in 1991.

The head of the chiefs of staff added that there were "indications about unrest in some of the Iraqi leadership," but he did not give any details to back up the statement.

Top administration officials have encouraged Saddam to go into exile with his family, and the US military has tried to foment dissension within the leadership with e-mails, leaflets and public statements.

Myers added, however, that there was no sign that the military was not following orders or of a purge.

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