White House claims U.S. has clear authority to use force against iraq
Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/20/2003

The United States said it has clear authority to use military force against Iraq to assure its national security and compel Iraq to comply with applicable UN Security Council resolutions, states a White House report released March 19.

Released in connection with the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, the report summarizes the U.S. diplomatic efforts over the past 12 years to protect against the continued threat posed by Iraq's development of weapons of mass destruction and obtain Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions pertaining to Iraq.

"Because of the intransigence and defiance of the Iraqi regime, further continuation of these efforts will neither adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor likely lead to enforcement of all relevant UNSC resolutions regarding Iraq," states the report.

The report also explains that the use of force against Iraq is "fully consistent" with efforts by the United States and other countries in the international war on terrorism.

"In the circumstances described above, the President of the United States has the authority -- indeed, given the dangers involved, the duty -- to use force against Iraq to protect the security of the American people and to compel compliance with UNSC resolutions," says the report.

It is not clear why -- if the USA felt that such an authority was given to the US by the UN Security Council for military acts against Iraq -- the US would have spent such time and effort at the UN Security Council trying to convince its members to pass a resolution on Iraq to authorize military acts -- efforts that failed because of opposition by the majority members of the Security Council.

Previous Stories:
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  Vatican denounces Bush's speech: He shoulders responsibility before God, history   (3/19/2003)
  Official evidence the US acting in violation of international law   (3/18/2003)
  Bush gives Saddam Hussein and sons 48 hours to leave Iraq   (3/18/2003)

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