The return of arms inspectors to Tirag has raised hopes that the
US/UK proposed attack on Iraq can be averted. Tony Benn and others have laid stress on the fact that United Nations (UN) resolution 144l does not explicitly authorise war against Iraq.
What Benn demands is that the Americans and British come back to the UN for a further resolution before any attack. This obviously avoids the question whether those proposing this line would then support a war if a further Security Council resolution were passed authorising military action.
Such a resolution is by no means impossible. The secret negotiations among the five permanent members that preceded resolution |44t undoubtedly included just such a possibility.
This 'only via the UN' line also avoids dealing with the question of the United Nations itself. A war, whether supported by the UN or not, would have to be opposed. We know that Tony Benn himself would oppose such a war.
It might be argued that supporting a UN position is just a tactic. But such a tactic does add real confusion to the political situation when clarity should be the order of the day.
The UN is essentially the plaything of the US. It is irresponsible to try to invest the UN with real authority when the only reso..••. lutions given weight are those that coincide with US foreign policy interests.
No doubt the fact that Bush went through the farce of seeking UN support for his war strategy revealed certain reservations that a section of the US ruling class had in relation to unilateral action by the US. But this was and is very much a sideshow. The resolution passed is both punitive and deliberately ambiguous. There is no agreement as to what would constitute a 'material breach' by the Iraqi regime. That is left to the subjective judgement of the US administration.
The discussions and negotiations around the UN have provided the cover for the agreements between the great powers. And the time spent there was also used to prepare the military build up.
In Britain, Blair attempts to use the support of Labour MPs for the UN to whip them into line. And, to a certain extent, this strategy has worked. In the debate and vote on the war in Parliament on 25 November the Labour opposition to war was reduced to 32 MPs (down from 53 in September).
Much was made by Jack Straw and others of the unanimous vote by the UN for resolution 1441. Even Syria voted in favour, Straw pointed out. Ignored was the fact that it had been made very clear to Syria that opposition to 1441 would cost it dear.
Such is international democracy.
contra lor guerra inmigrant contra Ningun Women on the huge demonstration through Florence during the ESF ¡No a la guerta contra