The bartering is pretty much over with. The tables have been completely turned around. Instead of the US/UK on the defensive scrambling for votes, the ball is now in court of the UN, specifically the SC. We have completely (finally!) turned the argument around from "we need a second resolution" to "you need a resolution to stop us". We have simply said "1441 authorizes us to take action, so we're taking action". What is France going to do? They have 3 options. #1, do nothing, which is most likely. #2, they could try to come up with a resolution that everyone would agree to. NOT LIKELY AT ALL. #3, they could put forth a resolution that declares 1441 does NOT authorize military action, and declares that any military action at this time is forbidden. WON'T HAPPEN. Quite obviously, we would simply VETO any such nonsense, thus making 1441 the de facto ruling resolution. And here they thought they had us in a box! We have extracated ourselves from this box, put Chirac in it and taped it shut. Let's see the worm squirm his way out of this one.
As for Turkey, it's too late for us to use that front as originally intended; however, it could still be quite useful in a more limited fashion, so we are still talking to them. We have made other arrangements, so while it would be useful to have them aboard, it would have as much symbolic value as anything at this point.
I have this vision of chirac as Marcelle Marceau, complete with box routine!
BUMP!
UN resolution to eject the United States from the United Nations
"Time for the USA to get out of the UN. If not, it should be kicked out. This should be Monday's proposed resolutions at the UN security Council and at the UN General Assembly. Time for the United Nations to grow up and become independent of the USA, and it is time for democratic international institutions. Let a new era of world development begins."
Good for a chuckle -- from grownups, that is.
The French just opted for door #1. No surprise -- yet.