"Even some of them from the little countries think they are pretty important," a European diplomat said today.

"He has no love for any of these people," a European diplomat said.

"This is significant as words," a European diplomat said of the speech.

But that is a hope more than an expectation, European diplomats said.

European diplomats say they do not known what the likely size, composition or cost of such a force would be.

"It's not something we would think is a particularly good idea," said one European diplomat.

"It could add political pressure to stop these operations," said one European diplomat.

European diplomats said there had been no final agreement on that issue.

"We know that time is not on our side," one European diplomat said.

"He's the reason everyone else is coming," said one European diplomat.