[Billthedrill]

Why should the world's sole superpower confine itself to acting within the international legal framework stipulated by the UN Charter, if it can attain its goals with the help of regional blocs (NATO) or by creating ad hoc international coalitions?

While that is a perfectly legitimate question, it misrepresents what actually happened in Iraq. The members of the UN (i.e. France) got cold feet only after it became evident the Bush had every intention of enforcing the resolutions already passed within that international legal framework. Were these not intended to be enforced they shouldn't have been passed - passing empty rhetoric and declaring the problem solved is precisely what is wrong with the UN.

[processing please hold]

Bush rocked the boat by actually enforcing their resolutions. I think they were caught off-guard by someone who would interpet a resolution of 'serious consequences' as something worth more than a scrape of paper it was written on. You can bet they won't make that mistake in the future....if they have a future that is.