TruthNews Commentary, Feb. 25, 2003

The Bush administration has been attacked by both sides of the debate over its decision to pursue a another U.N. resolution on Iraq. Critics claim that the resolution faces insurmountable opposition in the Security Council, with permanent representatives France, Russia, and China all threatening to use their veto power. But perhaps the critics haven’t read the draft resolution. The text simply reiterates the findings of Security Council 1441 (approved by a vote of 15-0 last November) and then declares that "Iraq has failed to take the final opportunity afforded to it [under] resolution 1441."

It would be difficult for Security Council members to vote against the first part of the resolution, since the members (even Iraq’s fellow sponsor of terrorism Syria) unanimously agreed to these findings three months ago. As to the conclusion that Iraq has failed to take the final opportunity afforded by 1441, consider the following:

• Iraq submitted a false declaration regarding its weapons of mass destruction. Over a thousand tons of chemical weapons remain unaccounted for.

• U.N. inspectors discovered a number of chemical warheads not previously acknowledged by Iraq

• UN inspectors discovered that Hussein has built and tested ballistic missiles that are banned under Security Council resolutions. Chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix ordered Hussein to destroy the missiles. Hussein refused.

• Iraq continues trying to shoot down U.S. and coalition warplanes patrolling the northern and southern no-fly zones. Firing at U.S. aircraft is a violation of the "cease-fire" agreement that ended the Persian Gulf war.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer last week made it clear that the U.S.-led attack will take place with or without another U.N. resolution:

The position that the President has taken is that he believes that it remains very important for the United Nations Security Council to be an effective organization. And the President has said to our allies that we intend to work through the United Nations, and we will.

The President intends to work with our friends and allies to offer a resolution, either this week or next, at the United Nations Security Council. And the President has made repeatedly clear that the preferable outcome is for the United Nations to act. If the United Nations Security Council fails to act, the President, along with a coalition of the willing, will enforce Resolution 1441 by disarming Saddam Hussein.

Bush has made it clear that the new resolution isn't really about Iraq but about the U.N. itself. Morally and legally, America and its allies have every justification to liberate Iraq, with or without another Security Council resolution. The Security Council’s failure to pass the proposed resolution will not invalidate the previous 17 resolutions.

While the new resolution may not be relevant to the liberation of Iraq, it’s an important test-case for the U.N. Because Bush has made Iraq a test of the U.N.'s relevance, not to ask for another resolution would be to let the Security Council off the hook. It would give France and their cronies the luxury of being able to protest American actions without the responsibility of taking a formal position.

The new resolution forces the Axis of Weasels to take a formal position on Iraq. The text states the obvious – that Iraq has failed to disarm. If the Security Council members, in their desire to poke America in the eye, fail to pass the new resolution, they will themselves become the liars and deceivers, aiding and abetting Hussein’s lies and deception. When America liberates Iraq, France will find that, by undermining the Security Council’s credibility, they’ve poked the U.N. and themselves in the eye.