United Nations inspectors have said that these chemical weapons have been destroyed and UNMOVIC is awaiting Security Council permission to find out for certain.
President Bush says that regardless of the inspections, Saddam Hussein must go. Obviously, the United States and Iraq have a serious disagreement.
The Security Council, however, is not the place for such a dispute.
When the United Nations was established in 1945, it also inaugurated the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, to settle disputes between U.N. Member-States.
President Bush says that regardless of the inspections, Saddam Hussein must go. Obviously, the United States and Iraq have a serious disagreement.
The Security Council, however, is not the place for such a dispute.
When the United Nations was established in 1945, it also inaugurated the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, to settle disputes between U.N. Member-States.
By bringing the matter to the Security Council, the United States is conferring powers upon this U.N. Organ that are not granted it under the U.N. Charter. This is similar to what has occured in the United States, where the Constitutional power to declare war has been transfered from Congress to the Presidency.
The irony is that this also confirms the worst fears of the Right-Wing Conservative backers of the Bush Administration.
By allowing the Security Council to determine the fate of Iraq, the U.S. is granting it the power of a “World Government” – something that was never intended and - according to International Law - the Security Council does not have such authority.
The irony is that this also confirms the worst fears of the Right-Wing Conservative backers of the Bush Administration.
By allowing the Security Council to determine the fate of Iraq, the U.S. is granting it the power of a “World Government” – something that was never intended and - according to International Law - the Security Council does not have such authority.
There is no reason – either in Logic or Law – why the Five Permanent Members should be able to determine the fate of any government of any Member-State.
Should the Security Council cave in to U.S. pressure, it will cast doubt upon its own legitimacy as an independent international force for peace.
The actions of the Bush Administration may be ignorant or they may be arrogant. They are certainly not legally justifiable.
Paul V. Rafferty
Photo of President Bush happily signing the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Act, courtesy of:
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com
Charter of the United Nations:
http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter
Should the Security Council cave in to U.S. pressure, it will cast doubt upon its own legitimacy as an independent international force for peace.
The actions of the Bush Administration may be ignorant or they may be arrogant. They are certainly not legally justifiable.
Paul V. Rafferty
Photo of President Bush happily signing the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Act, courtesy of:
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com
Charter of the United Nations:
http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter