Bush may yet seek UN backing on Iraq (WHY ASK WHY ALERT)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | August 30, 2002 | David Rennie

[MadIvan]

After weeks of pressure from its allies around the globe, America has signalled that it may be willing after all to seek United Nations backing for a war in Iraq.

In a parallel attempt to head off domestic critics, President George W Bush is expected to ask Congress for an explicit motion of support before launching military action, despite recent declarations by his legal advisers that he has the right to act without formal congressional approval.

Officials in Washington and at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas, are engaged in a fierce discussion over whether to involve the UN one last time, in a final, symbolic effort to demand that Saddam Hussein must re-admit weapons inspectors, an unnamed "top adviser" to Mr Bush told the New York Times.

Mr Bush must decide "whether to go it alone or go to the UN", the adviser said. A senior diplomat said the battle lines cut right across the administration's inner circles and did not simply reflect the traditional divisions between Pentagon "hawks" and more cautious State Department voices.

Mr Bush has been fiercely criticised by Congress and foreign leaders for failing to make plain his case for action against Iraq.

His aides say it is a simple question of timing, adding that a final decision to go to war has not been made and promising that, when the decision is made, the administration will have a "compelling" case to put to the world.

Behind the public assurances, this week has seen a series of hints and leaks from senior officials, making it plain that the White House believes it has every authority to act without Congress and is not afraid of acting alone.

Aides let it be known that White House legal counsel had advised the president that he had three-fold authority to strike, firstly as commander in chief, secondly because the resolutions authorising the 1991 Gulf war had not expired and, thirdly, because Congress authorised military force against those linked to the September 11 attacks.

That leak, seen as a shot across the bows of any congressional leaders thinking of trying to veto the president, provoked angry reactions.

Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate judiciary committee and a Democrat, called for a full debate and vote, saying the Bush administration "should not expect to commit American troops with a wink and a nod to Congress".

On Wednesday, John Warner, the senior Republican on the Senate armed services committee, called for Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary, to testify after Congress returns next week.

Earlier, Mr Rumsfeld said America was not afraid of acting alone, though he predicted other nations would flock to the side of America once they realised they were in the right.

On Monday Vice-President Dick Cheney effectively dismissed calls for weapons inspectors to be allowed to return to Iraq, saying Saddam had proved a past master at developing chemical and biological weapons under the noses of previous UN inspectors.

America's nightmare is that the UN will send inspectors into Iraq and that they will be tricked into giving Saddam a clean bill of health.

This would demolish a major plank of the diplomatic case for regime change in Baghdad.

[MadIvan]

No quote from Winston for this thread. I feel like this summarises his predicament better:

Stuck In The Middle With You

Well I don't know why I came here tonight
I've got a feelin' that somethin' ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wonderin' how I'll get down the stairs
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you

Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with you
And I'm wonderin' what it is I should do
It's so hard to keep this smile from my face
Losin' control, yeah, I'm all over the place
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am stuck in the middle with you

Well you started off with nothin' and
You're proud that you're a self-made man, yeah
And your friends they all come crawlin'
Slap you on the back and say
Please...
Please...

Tryin' to make some sense of it all
But I can see there makes no sense at all
Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor
I don't think that I can take any more
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am stuck in the middle with you

Stuck in the middle
Stuck in the middle
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Stuck in the middle
Stuck in the middle
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am stuck in the middle with you

Well you started off with nothin' and
You're proud that you're a self-made man, yeah
And your friends they all come crawlin'
And slap you on the back and say
Please...
I say please...

Well I don't know why I came here tonight
I've got a feelin' that somethin' ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wonderin' how I'll get down the stairs
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you
Stuck in the middle with you
Oh, yeah
Stuck in the middle with you
Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you
With you, with you, with you...

Regards, Ivan

[July 4th]

whether to involve the UN one last time

Are they trying to get one of those classic 174-2 votes? US and Israel, hopefully the UK...that would be it for any war vote. Inspections would pass overwhelmingly, but do absolutely nothing.

[MadIvan]

Are they trying to get one of those classic 174-2 votes? US and Israel, hopefully the UK...that would be it for any war vote. Inspections would pass overwhelmingly, but do absolutely nothing.

The UN showed its hand by putting Syria on the Human Rights Commission. Why we take anything they have to say seriously is beyond me.

Regards, Ivan

[Mr. Mojo]

Seeking UN backing is a horrible idea -- we won't get it.

Seeking Congressional approval, however is a brilliant idea, for the Dems can't afford to vote against any resolution. If we're hit with another large terrorist attack (which is practically inevitable), any congresscritter who voted "nay" will be (justifiably) burned at the stake by the American voting public. And if the resolution votes go along party lines, the Dems could be utterly destroyed.

Congressional approval will be a piece of cake.

[EternalHope]

Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate judiciary committee and a Democrat, called for a full debate and vote, saying the Bush administration "should not expect to commit American troops with a wink and a nod to Congress".

Leaky Leahy, huh?

Seems somebody leaked highly classified info to CNN. Seems lots of folks think Leahy is the one who did it. Seems like it was treason, but some folks say it could be spun into something else if the President asked for further authorization from Congress.

I wonder what Leaky's motive is?

Hope the FBI finds out who leaked, Leahy. Then I hope they lock you up forever.

[TLBSHOW]

bury the UN it is a communist group and America looks like fools being in it and having it on our shores. Should be shipped to China and the building razed.

[MadIvan]

Should be shipped to China and the building razed.

Which would also improve New York's architecture immensely.

Regards, Ivan

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

Why is it that the two Bush Presidents (dad & son) have always surrounded themselves with foolish advisers? They, themselves are pretty smart, but they almost always defer decisions to the morons in their close orbit.

[MadIvan]

Why is it that the two Bush Presidents (dad & son) have always surrounded themselves with foolish advisers? They, themselves are pretty smart, but they almost always defer decisions to the morons in their close orbit

Be fair, we are talking about one foolish advisor, namely, Colin Powell. Condi Rice is excellent.

Regards, Ivan

[PianoMan]

The UN showed its hand by putting Syria on the Human Rights Commission

Is my memory failing me, or is Libya now the HEAD of that commission? I really think this is just a pipe dream of the ubercommunist Guardian.

[MadIvan]

Is my memory failing me, or is Libya now the HEAD of that commission? I really think this is just a pipe dream of the ubercommunist Guardian.

Indeed Libya, and Colonel Quadaffi is, the head of that commission. I suppose being a ruthless despot is no bar to the job.

Regards, Ivan

[Polonius]

Congressional approval yes, UN approval no! I would praise Bush from the mountaintops if he emphatically put to rest the absurd idea that the UN must approve all wars. It must be clear that the United States goes to war with the approval of its people's representatives, and not of an unelected international body populated by petty bureaucrats and dictators.

[Jason Kauppinen]

Why can't Bush just go for the vote in the UN, then if it fails, just withdraw from it altogether?

[bybybill]

Please give our guys a little credit, they ain`t stupid. GWB will go before the Security Council to get UN SUPPORT for removing Saddammnn. They won`t do it unless they have the votes going in. Don`t forget that most of the Arab countries sent troops to fight Iraq in 91. Nobody is going to die for this monster. By the election, Saddammnn will be viewed by the world, as a monster that threats us all.

As for Congress, don`t sweat it, thats a done deal

[brat]

One question Jorge, WHY?

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

We will be invading Iraq alone. Hopefully we will get some help from the rebels inside Iraq who want Saddam "Insane" out of power.

[Timm]

Not stupid...because they're only going to ask the Security Council for support and not the whole General Assembly? The Security Council whose permanent members include France (no), China (no), Russia (abstention, if we're lucky)? I can only assume you're supposing that we'll get enough votes from among the likes of Guinea and Cameroon to break the deadlock-- and that's assuming the U.K. votes with us, a prospect that is far from assured.

All of this, you think, is the smart thing to do. I wonder what your idea of a mistake would be?

At any rate, I agree that Bush will bring something before the Congress. We'll know what Bush is serious if the R's to bring something to the floor to vote on before the elections. I think Bush will get his votes anytime before January, but before the elections there will be more Dems who want to vote no but who do not have the stones to do so. All Dems who vote yes will be incapable of real opposition from thereon out.

[Lion's Cub]

This is as rediculous as it gets.

Guess what , Jorge? I don't give a damn what the rest of the world thinks! Are you for us or against us?

[dennisw]

Gerry Raferty vocals... "Steeler's Wheel"

[MadIvan]

It would be the song that I would have in my head walking into the UN building:

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right...
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you...

Not many people have Condi Rice as the "you" to be stuck with however. ;)

Regards, Ivan