Former UN head calls war breach of Charter (TALK TO THE HAND ALERT)

The National Post (Canada) ^ | March 21, 2003 | Sheldon Alberts and Anne Dawson

[MadIvan]

'Basic contradiction': Boutros-Ghali predicts U.S. attack will destabilize entire Middle East

OTTAWA - Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the former United Nations secretary-general, yesterday condemned the U.S.-led war on Iraq as a violation of the UN charter and said George W. Bush's policy of pre-emptive strikes is in "basic contradiction" with international law.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali, the secretary-general of La Francophonie, an organization of francophone states, also said he fears the war will provoke civil conflict among competing ethnic factions in Iraq and destabilize the entire Middle East.

"I believe that this intervention is a violation of the charter of the United Nations," Mr. Boutros-Ghali told reporters in Ottawa after meeting with Jean Chrétien, the Prime Minister, to commemorate International Francophonie Day.

"I believe that pre-emptive attack is in basic contradiction with the Charter of the United Nations. The Charter of the United Nations [says] you cannot use military forces, or even the threat to use forces, without the agreement of the Security Council."

Mr. Boutros-Ghali was echoing sentiments expressed recently by Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General.

The UN Charter forbids war unless it is waged in self-defence or explicitly authorized by the UN Security Council.

The United States contends military action was sanctioned by the UN last November when the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1441, which threatened "serious consequences" if Saddam Hussein failed to fully disarm.

The Bush administration has also argued it is acting in self-defence against a regime that poses a threat to the American people.

The U.S. action has put the UN in "crisis," Mr. Boutros-Ghali said, but he believes the organization will rebound from the split between the United States and Great Britain on one side and France, China and Russia, the three other permanent members of the Security Council, on the other.

"Let us talk very frankly. I am afraid that this will diminish the image of the United Nations and the capacity to do work which is to settle peacefully international disputes," Mr. Boutros-Ghali said in an interview with Global Television's Ottawa Inside Out.

"I hope that the United Nations will be able to overcome this crisis."

Mr. Boutros-Ghali said the war in Iraq puts into question the United States' ongoing war against terrorism.

"It is difficult to set up a coalition against international terrorism if one doesn't have legitimacy," he said.

[MadIvan]

To use an Americanism, Boutros, "Talk to the hand, because the face don't understand."

What is it about people who speak French, does the very act of speaking the language infect one with cowardice?

Regards, Ivan

The flag of Canada...before the trouble started.

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[TomGuy]

U.S.-led war on Iraq as a violation of the UN charter and said George W. Bush's policy of pre-emptive strikes is in "basic contradiction" with international law.

Well, dang. Our Constitution trumps the UN Charter. Ain't that a kicker. On to Bagdad!!!!

[camle]

oh well, we violated your UN charter. you should kick us the heck out then, hmm???

[Joe Bonforte]

Boutros-Ghali predicts U.S. attack will destabilize entire Middle East

As Mark Steyn says, he's missing the point. Of course it will. That's why it's such a good idea.

Mark talks about "stability junkies" who always prefer stability over any kind of change, no matter how bad the present situation is. You can read the whole thing (it's about a year old) here.

[MEG33]

My sympathy to Blair for having to restrain an urge to break ChIRAQ"s nose. The Canadian weasel has told people to quit calling us names.How sweet.

[Fudd]

U.S. may have violated Charter...

So, uh, what are they going to do? Pass a resolution?

[prairiebreeze]

"Let us talk very frankly. I am afraid that this will diminish the image of the United Nations and the capacity to do work which is to settle peacefully international disputes,"

And that's this moron's biggest concern. Not an evil, murdering dictator, not WMD, not terrorism, not suffering Iraqi's or the possibility of good things happening in the ME. This clown is all worried about the status and image of the UN. Well, I guess maybe he should be at that! heh

Prairie

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Yes, if we had an 18th resolution it would have been OK...

(time to pull out of the socialist/dictator dominated UN)

[MEG33]

It's akin to telling an abused woman to put up with the violence "for the sake of the children."

[mabelkitty]

"Let us talk very frankly. I am afraid that this will diminish the image of the United Nations and the capacity to do work which is to settle peacefully international disputes,"

Actually, this is just a side bonus to our conflict.

[AmericanVictory]

Since the Middle East has been out of sych by at least 300 years for the past 100 years, it would seem that it is going to destabilize and reform in any case, particularly as its oil is needed less and less. It is only resistance to better oil and energy technology that has kept it from destabilizing and reforming long before now.

[gcruse]

the secretary-general of La Francophonie

Don't you just love it?  I couldn't have come up with a better name, myself.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Hand? "Talk to the finger, Beeeeoootch."