Text of U.S.-British draft resolution on Iraq

Associated Press | February 24, 2003

[John Valentine]

The "serious consequences" are anything we choose them to be.

And by "we" I mean the President of the United States acting in his capacity of Commander in Chief of he military forces of the United States.

[WOSG]

Folks, at this point there are 3 publics to worry about: The diplomats, the American people, and the public of the allies.

The US people are on board. Bush gives the order and if the war goes well - we will be happy. We have enough "Cassus Belli" in our own minds.

Blair and the UK need this. We get it, it's enough. ... so long as France doesnt agree and *then* ventilate that more inspectors are needed, which may make some public opinion go wobbly.

The Diplomats ... ah, there's the rub. The bottom line is that few of the UN security really wants to go to the mat and see Iraq conquered. They would rather 'kick this down the road'.

The wording is quite masterful as it merely states the obvious and true and only requires a single added element - that Iraq has not complied with 1441. France will want to edit it, something like "let's give Saddam another final chance" where this wording closes the door.

I think it will pass. And there will be enough dissent to make it clear this *is* about approving war.

And so it will happen.

[rwfromkansas]

Wait a minute......something just dawned on me. Bush has been saying further inspections won't work. Thus, he will say forget it if they pass the Frenchie resolution and won't let it add more time to the process.

You are right, Rob. Thanks for bringing me back on this one.......

[WOSG]

"Reinforced inspections:"

Good idea! Let's reinforce them with 4 armored divisions, 200,000 boots in Iraq and daily air strikes!!

Let's disarm Iraq of its #1 weapon of mass destruction: So'dam InSane.

[Cboldt]

Maybe as important is what isn't said.

Some UN resolutions end with the compound statment, "Decides to follow closely the situation and to remain seized of the matter."

Generally, however, the "remain seized" text means that the organization is NOT done with the matter.

[RobFromGa]

Thanks for bringing me back on this one.......

That's what friends are for. "people, helping people..."

[Samurai_Jack]

"Decides that Iraq has failed to take the final opportunity afforded to it in resolution 1441 (2002)."

Decides to remain seized of the matter."

Could these sentences be linked together in context?

Translated:

Decides that iraq has FAILED to take the FINAL opportunity afforded by Resolution 1441 and DECIDES to REMAIN SEIZED of the matter.

[RobFromGa]

he will say forget it if they pass the Frenchie resolution

We have a VETO too, this one Shall Not Pass.

[bootyist-monk]

Actually, the exact opposite is true. The last thing that Bush wants is for the UN to authorize the use of force. Instead, he wants them in a box, and that is what this is intended to do.

The UN Security Council will now be forced to vote against their own resolution to stop military action. If they do, then they are basically without credibility, and the US has effectively rendered the entire body irrelevant. Bush wins and Iraq is then liberated. If they agree with the resolution, then Bush wins and Iraq is liberated.

Regardless of the current situation, with Bush, the focus is always on the end-game. My sense is that once again, Bush succeeds in marginalizing his opponents and creating the optimal path for the big win.

My prediction: Two months from now, Iraq is liberated, Saddam is room temperature and there is some cool new footage on the Discovery Wings Channel.

Bootyist

[Samurai_Jack]

with Bush, the focus is always on the end-game.

Oh God I love it when I hear the DimwitocRATS talking about how 'dumb' Mr Bush is...

Every time they underestimate This President, they are POUNDED with it. And the penchant to underestimate this president has now reached GLOBAL Proportions.

Mr Bush takes the opponents weapon and absolutely pummels them with it... every single time.

[k2blader]

Reference bump.

[RobbyS]

I hope uoi are right. I any case. France has left us no chouice but to go ahread without them. If we are successful, then we will never again give tghe UN the time of day and France will have lost every bit of leverage it has. Militarily they are contemtoble; economically they are are minor state. Only politically can they matter, and this is why Chirac was enraged by the rebellion of the Eastern countries.

[XBob]

"Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions"

Should be "Recalling all its previous IR-relevant resolutions"