Regards, Ivan
Posted on 03/16/2003 5:31:19 PM PST by MadIvan
TODAY is indeed judgment day for the international community over Iraq. That is the central message of yesterday’s transatlantic summit in the Azores between the US, Britain, Spain and Portugal. The words of both President Bush and Tony Blair were straightforward. Security Council resolution 1441 had unanimously condemned Saddam Hussein as in material breach of his obligation to disarm. After three and a half months, Saddam was still trying hard to avoid fulfilling that obligation. Mr Blair listed the areas of non-compliance: no interviews with Iraqi weapons scientists had been permitted outside of the regime and Saddam still refuses to admit he has stocks of nerve gas or anthrax. Therefore, the Iraqi regime must be given a final ultimatum to disarm, or face being disarmed by force.
The import was clear. The Azores ultimatum was directed in code not only at Saddam but at those nations that have blocked a second UN resolution authorising force to make Iraq comply - France, Germany and Russia. The careful choice of words from both Mr Bush and Mr Blair made it plain they considered that resolution 1441 gave them the moral and legal right to disarm Saddam.
The search for a form of words over a prospective second resolution had been designed to bring France, Germany and Russia with the Allies. But those countries, and France in particular, had been from the outset unwilling to accept any stance other than giving Saddam more time. In other words, not to implement the intent of resolution 1441. The Azores summit was designed to draw a line under that diplomatic game in the course of the current 24 hours. After that, resolution 1441 will be implemented, with or without a second resolution. The waiting game is over.
The historical significance of the Azores is not that it was a war summit in the tradition of Roosevelt and Churchill. Though it clearly does herald a new global axis between America, Britain and a resurgent democratic Spain, which is the influential hub of an economic and cultural bloc 400 million strong. What the Azores represents is the continuing willingness of the US-UK-Iberian alliance to go the last mile for a diplomatic resolution. It was this grouping that drew back from immediate force to go the UN route last autumn at the behest of France and Germany. It was this group that agreed several times to give the UN inspectors more time, despite the injunction on Iraq to comply immediately. It was this group that sought a second resolution in vain. It was this group that spent last week trying to get the French to agree to an objective list of benchmarks for testing Saddam’s willingness to disarm - again in vain. And it was this Azores group that went out of its way yesterday to declare that Iraqi oil will stay under the control of the Iraqi people under UN supervision, as a rejoinder to the accusation that US policy in Iraq is motivated by a desire to seize its oil wealth.
Twenty-four hours is a long time in politics. It is time for France to agree a genuine timetable for disarming Iraq. It is time for Saddam Hussein to leave the country under international agreement. War can still be avoided, just. But one thing is certain after the Azores summit: by the end of today, the wheels will be set in motion to liberate Iraq and its long-suffering people.
Regards, Ivan
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.