Synopsis of the Iraq Legal Background Memo

Synopsis of the Iraq Legal Background Memo

 

This memo outlines the Resolutions governing Iraq after the 1991 war.

 

Of Special interest the clauses governing authorization of the use of force against Iraq.

 

British Intelligence concluded that force could only be used if Iraq violated obligations in Resolution 687. However only the UN could give authorization to use military force, NOT any individual member of the coalition or member of the UN.

 

Violations that would allow military force were:

 

Iraq's Refusal to cooperate with UNSCOM; this initiated Resolution 1205 in 1998.

 

Self Defense in the event of attack or imminent attack from Iraq, restricted in level of aggression equal to the attack or imminent attack. The potential 'threat' of attack did not warrant military action.

 

Use of force for humanitarian reasons to protect civilians, such as Saddam's previous repression of the Kurds and Shia.

 

In conclusion this memo was giving the only circumstances that a ground invasion of Iraq would be considered legal by the world community. 

 

My question is why look for legal options for invasion if WMDs and Terrorism was the reason Bush gave? Unless there was no galvanizing excuse for war yet devised by the Bush administration at the time of the conference.

 

If people only knew the facts, they would not be fighting for the 'RIGHT' to be screwed over.

+ $1,751,132,130,359 Social Security Trust Fund
– $7,805,708,317,936 The Gross National Debt

Time will tell all the Truth.

VT