Lord Robertson seemed to hint that the United States was not yet ready to take action.

"We've got to get to the point where we could do another Kosovo," Lord Robertson said.

"This is very much on the table," Lord Robertson said of the offer.

"I look forward to a pretty heavy workload," Lord Robertson said.

Lord Robertson said the war was counterproductive and unacceptable internationally.

"You cannot buy security on the cheap," Lord Robertson said.

Lord Robertson has been quietly criticized as carrying too much American water.

Lord Robertson's statement does not mean the issue has gone away.

Lord Robertson was reticent about the kind of military action being contemplated.

Lord Robertson said several factors had made the issue a contentious one, including public opinion in Europe.