Internationaal recht en Irak

[fernand]

In die aangenomen resolutie,stond er daar dat Saddam geheel moest ontwapenen? Of dat de massavernietegingswapens moesten opgeruimd worden?
Hans Blix en zijn medewerkers waren toch op zoek naar massavernietegingswapens?
Dus wanneer de resolutie spreekt over massavernietegingwapens, heeft de VS geen enkel mandaad, of legetimiteit tot een aanval op Irak.
Ik kan het natuurlijk mis hebben, maar volgens mij gaat de resolutie over het vernietigen van die wapens, en iet over algehele onywapening van IRAK.

[TomB]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door fernand

In die aangenomen resolutie,stond er daar dat Saddam geheel moest ontwapenen? Of dat de massavernietegingswapens moesten opgeruimd worden?
Hans Blix en zijn medewerkers waren toch op zoek naar massavernietegingswapens?
Dus wanneer de resolutie spreekt over massavernietegingwapens, heeft de VS geen enkel mandaad, of legetimiteit tot een aanval op Irak.
Ik kan het natuurlijk mis hebben, maar volgens mij gaat de resolutie over het vernietigen van die wapens, en iet over algehele onywapening van IRAK.

Het draait allemaal om een staakt het vuren.

Ik merk op dat de meesten hier hun voorgevormde opinie komen herhalen zonder mee te helpen zoeken naar de waarheid. Ik zal dan ook maar bij mijn opinie blijven dat de VS geen internationale rechtsregels brak.

[fernand]

Tomb,

een staakt het vuren?????
Wie was er aan het vuren, en op wie?????

Het draait hem om olie, en om de dollars welke werden ingeruild voor Euro's. En de resolutie sprak om het vernietigen van massavernietigingwapens. En niet om een algehele ontwapening.

Nu beginnen ze daar ook al aan om ons te verkopen. Ze zoeken van alles uit om hun ongelegemiteerde aanval op Irak te verechtvaardigen.

Luister maar wat Blix de amerikanen in de schoenen schuift. Hoe zijn werkzaamheden werden gesaboteerd daar de VS.

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

1990-1991
De tweede Golfoorlog: Irak valt Koeweit binnen

Op 27 februari is Koeweit bevrijd. Een week later accepteert Irak een door de VN opgesteld staakt-het-vuren. Het vredesverdrag wordt eind maart getekend. Irak stemt in met VN-inspecties en belooft de ontwikkeling massavernietingswapens te staken. Alle chemische en en biologische wapens moeten worden vernietigd, evenals de lange-afstandsraketten.

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

De president van de Verenigde Staten van Amerika wil een oorlog in Irak. Misschien zijn de aanvallen al gestart als je dit leest. 'Er gebeuren gevaarlijke dingen in het land', zegt de Amerikaanse president George Bush. 'Er worden massavernietigingswapens gemaakt, hoewel dat door de Verenigde Naties (vereniging van bijna alle landen van de wereld, die probeert te zorgen voor veiligheid en vrede) verboden is.' Dit verbod kwam er na de Golfoorlog in 1991. Toen was Irak het buurland Koeweit binnengevallen. De Verenigde Staten en andere westerse landen begonnen daarom een oorlog tegen Irak en zijn leider Saddam Hoessein. De oorlog eindigde niet met een vredesverdrag maar met een staakt-het-vuren. Dat wil zeggen: de Amerikanen stoppen met vechten, als Irak bepaalde voorwaarden aanvaardt! Die voorwaarden werden opgelegd door de Verenigde Naties. De voorwaarden werden vastgelegd in een resolutie (een soort contract) en gecontroleerd door inspecteurs van de VN (Ver-enigde Naties). Er mochten geen grote wapens meer worden gekocht of ingevoerd. Zodat Irak geen nieuwe aanvalsplannen kan smeden. Irak aanvaardde de resolutie.

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

1990

9 januari 1991: Baker en Aziz ontmoeten elkaar in Geneve, maar het levert niets op.

12 januari 1991: Het Congres staat toe militair in te grijpen in Irak en Koeweit.

15 januari 1991: Op deze dag moet Irak zich terugtrekken.

16 januari 1991 Operatie Dessert Storm begint Marlin Fitzwater kondigt aan "De bevrijding van Koeweit is begonnen..." De luchtaanvallen starten op 17 januari at 2:38 a. Amerikaanse gevechtsvliegtuigen vallen doelen aan in Irak en Koeweit.

17 januari 1991: Irak lanceert de eerste Scudraket.

30 januari 1991: Er zijn nu meer dan een half miljoen troepen in Irak.

6 februari 1991: Koning Hussein van Jordanië veroordeelt de aanvallen en kiest partij voor Irak.

13 februari 1991: Een aanval op een bunker in Irak doodt driehonderd burgers.

17 februari 1991: Tariq Aziz reist af naar Moskou om over een eventueel einde van de oorlog te onderhandelen.

22 februari 1991: Bush stelt het nieuwe ultimatum in op 23 februari.

23 februari 1991: De Verenigde Staten start de grondaanvallen met behulp van Saoedi-Arabië.

25 februari 1991: Een Irakese Scudraket raakt een barrak in Saoedi-Arabië, die 27 mensen doodt.

26 februari 1991: Koeweitse leiders geven aan dat Koeweit-Stad in veiligheid is gebracht.

27 februari 1991: Bush stelt een staakt-het-vuren voor.

3 maart 1991: Irakese leiders accepteren het aanbod van Bush.4 maart 1991: Tien gegijzelde Amerikanen worden vrijgelaten.

5 maart 1991: Alle gijzelingen worden vrijgelaten.

8 maart 1991: De eerste Amerikaanse troepen gaan weer naar huis
Voor meer informatie over de golfoorlog: www.desert-storm.com

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door TomB

Welke internationale rechtsregels brak de Verenigde Staten door Irak aan te vallen?

Zie vorige 3 posts.

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

Rechtsgrond voor aanval
Volgens Balkenende is de rechtsgrond voor een militair ingrijpen in Irak aanwezig. Die is volgens de premier gelegen in een combinatie van de resoluties 678, 687 en 1441 van de VN-Veiligheidsraad. SP, GroenLinks en D66 bestreden dat.

Balkenende verwees naar de analyse van de hoogste juridisch adviseur van de Britse regering, Lord Goldsmith. Die zei maandag dat de autoriteit om geweld te gebruiken ligt in een combinatie van de drie genoemde resoluties.

Volgens Balkenende was resolutie 678 in 1990 een machtiging tot geweld voor onbepaalde tijd. In eerste instantie was dat bedoeld voor verdrijving van Irak uit Koeweit, in 1991. [size=6]In resolutie 687 werd het staakt-het-vuren aan het einde van de Golfoorlog vastgelegd en werd de eis aan Irak te ontwapenen gesteld. [/size]Schending van 687 'reactiveert' 678 en daarmee de machtiging van geweld, zei Balkenende.

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

Following it the full text of the UN Security Council Resolution 687 on Iraq adopted 1991

Full Text of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (1991)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RESOLUTION 687 (1991)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 2981st meeting,
on 3 April 1991

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolutions 660 (1990) of 2 August 1990, 661 (1990) of 6 August 1990, 662 (1990) of 9 August 1990, 664 (1990) of 18 August 1990, 665 (1990) of 25 August 1990, 666 (1990) of 13 September 1990, 667 (1990) of 16 September 1990, 669 (1990) of 24 September 1990, 670 (1990) of 25 September 1990, 674 (1990) of 29 October 1990, 677 (1990) of 28 November 1990, 678 (1990) of 29 November 1990 and 686 (1991) of 2 March 1991,

Welcoming the restoration to Kuwait of its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and the return of its legitimate Government,

Affirming the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Kuwait and Iraq, and noting the intention expressed by the Member States cooperating with Kuwait under paragraph 2 of resolution 678 (1990) to bring their military presence in Iraq to an end as soon as possible consistent with paragraph 8 of resolution 686 (1991),

Reaffirming the need to be assured of Iraq's peaceful intentions in the light of its unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait,

Taking note of the letter sent by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iraq on 27 February 1991 and those sent pursuant to resolution 686 (1991),

Noting that Iraq and Kuwait, as independent sovereign States, signed at Baghdad on 4 October 1963 "Agreed Minutes Between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq Regarding the Restoration of Friendly Relations, Recognition and Related Matters", thereby recognizing formally the boundary between Iraq and Kuwait and the allocation of islands, which were registered with the United Nations in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations and in which Iraq recognized the independence and complete sovereignty of the State of Kuwait within its borders as specified and accepted in the letter of the Prime Minister of Iraq dated 21 July 1932, and as accepted by the Ruler of Kuwait in his letter dated 10 August 1932,

Conscious of the need for demarcation of the said boundary,

Conscious also of the statements by Iraq threatening to use weapons in violation of its obligations under the Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925, and of its prior use of chemical weapons and affirming that grave consequences would follow any further use by Iraq of such weapons,

Recalling that Iraq has subscribed to the Declaration adopted by all States participating in the Conference of States Parties to the 1925 Geneva Protocol and Other Interested States, held in Paris from 7 to 11 January 1989, establishing the objective of universal elimination of chemical and biological weapons,

Recalling also that Iraq has signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, of 10 April 1972,

Noting the importance of Iraq ratifying this Convention,

Noting moreover the importance of all States adhering to this Convention and encouraging its forthcoming Review Conference to reinforce the authority, efficiency and universal scope of the convention,

Stressing the importance of an early conclusion by the Conference on Disarmament of its work on a Convention on the Universal Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and of universal adherence thereto,

Aware of the use by Iraq of ballistic missiles in unprovoked attacks and therefore of the need to take specific measures in regard to such missiles located in Iraq,

Concerned by the reports in the hands of Member States that Iraq has attempted to acquire materials for a nuclear-weapons programme contrary to its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 1 July 1968,

Recalling the objective of the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free zone in the region of the Middle East,

Conscious of the threat that all weapons of mass destruction pose to peace and security in the area and of the need to work towards the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free of such weapons,

Conscious also of the objective of achieving balanced and comprehensive control of armaments in the region,

Conscious further of the importance of achieving the objectives noted above using all available means, including a dialogue among the States of the region,

Noting that resolution 686 (1991) marked the lifting of the measures imposed by resolution 661 (1990) in so far as they applied to Kuwait,

Noting that despite the progress being made in fulfilling the obligations of resolution 686 (1991), many Kuwaiti and third country nationals are still not accounted for and property remains unreturned,

Recalling the International Convention against the Taking of Hostages, opened for signature at New York on 18 December 1979, which categorizes all acts of taking hostages as manifestations of international terrorism,

Deploring threats made by Iraq during the recent conflict to make use of terrorism against targets outside Iraq and the taking of hostages by Iraq,

Taking note with grave concern of the reports of the Secretary-General of 20 March 1991 and 28 March 1991, and conscious of the necessity to meet urgently the humanitarian needs in Kuwait and Iraq,

Bearing in mind its objective of restoring international peace and security in the area as set out in recent resolutions of the Security Council,

Conscious of the need to take the following measures acting under Chapter VII of the Charter,

1. Affirms all thirteen resolutions noted above, except as expressly changed below to achieve the goals of this resolution, including a formal cease-fire;

A

2. Demands that Iraq and Kuwait respect the inviolability of the international boundary and the allocation of islands set out in the "Agreed Minutes Between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq Regarding the Restoration of Friendly Relations, Recognition and Related Matters", signed by them in the exercise of their sovereignty at Baghdad on 4 October 1963 and registered with the United Nations and published by the United Nations in document 7063, United Nations, Treaty Series, 1964;

3. Calls upon the Secretary-General to lend his assistance to make arrangements with Iraq and Kuwait to demarcate the boundary between Iraq and Kuwait, drawing on appropriate material, including the map transmitted by Security Council document S/22412 and to report back to the Security Council within one month;

4. Decides to guarantee the inviolability of the above-mentioned international boundary and to take as appropriate all necessary measures to that end in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations;

B

5. Requests the Secretary-General, after consulting with Iraq and Kuwait, to submit within three days to the Security Council for its approval a plan for the immediate deployment of a United Nations observer unit to monitor the Khor Abdullah and a demilitarized zone, which is hereby established, extending ten kilometres into Iraq and five kilometres into Kuwait from the boundary referred to in the "Agreed Minutes Between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq Regarding the Restoration of Friendly Relations, Recognition and Related Matters" of 4 October 1963; to deter violations of the boundary through its presence in and surveillance of the demilitarized zone; to observe any hostile or potentially hostile action mounted from the territory of one State to the other; and for the Secretary-General to report regularly to the Security Council on the operations of the unit, and immediately if there are serious violations of the zone or potential threats to peace;

6. Notes that as soon as the Secretary-General notifies the Security Council of the completion of the deployment of the United Nations observer unit, the conditions will be established for the Member States cooperating with Kuwait in accordance with resolution 678 (1990) to bring their military presence in Iraq to an end consistent with resolution 686 (1991);

C

7. Invites Iraq to reaffirm unconditionally its obligations under the Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925, and to ratify the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, of 10 April 1972;

8. Decides that Iraq shall unconditionally accept the destruction, removal, or rendering harmless, under international supervision, of:

(a) All chemical and biological weapons and all stocks of agents and all related subsystems and components and all research, development, support and manufacturing facilities;

(b) All ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 kilometres and related major parts, and repair and production facilities;

9. Decides, for the implementation of paragraph 8 above, the following:

(a) Iraq shall submit to the Secretary-General, within fifteen days of the adoption of the present resolution, a declaration of the locations, amounts and types of all items specified in paragraph 8 and agree to urgent, on-site inspection as specified below;

(b) The Secretary-General, in consultation with the appropriate Governments and, where appropriate, with the Director-General of the World Health Organization, within forty-five days of the passage of the present resolution, shall develop, and submit to the Council for approval, a plan calling for the completion of the following acts within forty-five days of such approval:

(i) The forming of a Special Commission, which shall carry out immediate on-site inspection of Iraq's biological, chemical and missile capabilities, based on Iraq's declarations and the designation of any additional locations by the Special Commission itself;

(ii) The yielding by Iraq of possession to the Special Commission for destruction, removal or rendering harmless, taking into account the requirements of public safety, of all items specified under paragraph 8 (a) above, including items at the additional locations designated by the Special Commission under paragraph 9 (b) (i) above and the destruction by Iraq, under the supervision of the Special Commission, of all its missile capabilities, including launchers, as specified under paragraph 8 (b) above;

(iii) The provision by the Special Commission of the assistance and cooperation to the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency required in paragraphs 12 and 13 below;

10. Decides that Iraq shall unconditionally undertake not to use, develop, construct or acquire any of the items specified in paragraphs 8 and 9 above and requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Special Commission, to develop a plan for the future ongoing monitoring and verification of Iraq's compliance with this paragraph, to be submitted to the Security Council for approval within one hundred and twenty days of the passage of this resolution;

11. Invites Iraq to reaffirm unconditionally its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 1 July 1968;

12. Decides that Iraq shall unconditionally agree not to acquire or develop nuclear weapons or nuclear-weapons-usable material or any subsystems or components or any research, development, support or manufacturing facilities related to the above; to submit to the Secretary-General and the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency within fifteen days of the adoption of the present resolution a declaration of the locations, amounts, and types of all items specified above; to place all of its nuclear-weapons-usable materials under the exclusive control, for custody and removal, of the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the assistance and cooperation of the Special Commission as provided for in the plan of the Secretary-General discussed in paragraph 9 (b) above; to accept, in accordance with the arrangements provided for in paragraph 13 below, urgent on-site inspection and the destruction, removal or rendering harmless as appropriate of all items specified above; and to accept the plan discussed in paragraph 13 below for the future ongoing monitoring and verification of its compliance with these undertakings;

13. Requests the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, through the Secretary-General, with the assistance and cooperation of the Special Commission as provided for in the plan of the Secretary-General in paragraph 9 (b) above, to carry out immediate on-site inspection of Iraq's nuclear capabilities based on Iraq's declarations and the designation of any additional locations by the Special Commission; to develop a plan for submission to the Security Council within forty-five days calling for the destruction, removal, or rendering harmless as appropriate of all items listed in paragraph 12 above; to carry out the plan within forty-five days following approval by the Security Council; and to develop a plan, taking into account the rights and obligations of Iraq under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 1 July 1968, for the future ongoing monitoring and verification of Iraq's compliance with paragraph 12 above, including an inventory of all nuclear material in Iraq subject to the Agency's verification and inspections to confirm that Agency safeguards cover all relevant nuclear activities in Iraq, to be submitted to the Security Council for approval within one hundred and twenty days of the passage of the present resolution;

14. Takes note that the actions to be taken by Iraq in paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the present resolution represent steps towards the goal of establishing in the Middle East a zone free from weapons of mass destruction and all missiles for their delivery and the objective of a global ban on chemical weapons;

D

15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the steps taken to facilitate the return of all Kuwaiti property seized by Iraq, including a list of any property that Kuwait claims has not been returned or which has not been returned intact;

E

16. Reaffirms that Iraq, without prejudice to the debts and obligations of Iraq arising prior to 2 August 1990, which will be addressed through the normal mechanisms, is liable under international law for any direct loss, damage, including environmental damage and the depletion of natural resources, or injury to foreign Governments, nationals and corporations, as a result of Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait;

17. Decides that all Iraqi statements made since 2 August 1990 repudiating its foreign debt are null and void, and demands that Iraq adhere scrupulously to all of its obligations concerning servicing and repayment of its foreign debt;

18. Decides also to create a fund to pay compensation for claims that fall within paragraph 16 above and to establish a Commission that will administer the fund;

19. Directs the Secretary-General to develop and present to the Security Council for decision, no later than thirty days following the adoption of the present resolution, recommendations for the fund to meet the requirement for the payment of claims established in accordance with paragraph 18 above and for a programme to implement the decisions in paragraphs 16, 17 and 18 above, including: administration of the fund; mechanisms for determining the appropriate level of Iraq's contribution to the fund based on a percentage of the value of the exports of petroleum and petroleum products from Iraq not to exceed a figure to be suggested to the Council by the Secretary-General, taking into account the requirements of the people of Iraq, Iraq's payment capacity as assessed in conjunction with the international financial institutions taking into consideration external debt service, and the needs of the Iraqi economy; arrangements for ensuring that payments are made to the fund; the process by which funds will be allocated and claims paid; appropriate procedures for evaluating losses, listing claims and verifying their validity and resolving disputed claims in respect of Iraq's liability as specified in paragraph 16 above; and the composition of the Commission designated above;

F

20. Decides, effective immediately, that the prohibitions against the sale or supply to Iraq of commodities or products, other than medicine and health supplies, and prohibitions against financial transactions related thereto contained in resolution 661 (1990) shall not apply to foodstuffs notified to the Security Council Committee established by resolution 661 (1990) concerning the situation between Iraq and Kuwait or, with the approval of that Committee, under the simplified and accelerated "no-objection" procedure, to materials and supplies for essential civilian needs as identified in the report of the Secretary-General dated 20 March 1991, and in any further findings of humanitarian need by the Committee;

21. Decides that the Security Council shall review the provisions of paragraph 20 above every sixty days in the light of the policies and practices of the Government of Iraq, including the implementation of all relevant resolutions of the Security Council, for the purpose of determining whether to reduce or lift the prohibitions referred to therein;

22. Decides that upon the approval by the Security Council of the programme called for in paragraph 19 above and upon Council agreement that Iraq has completed all actions contemplated in paragraphs 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 above, the prohibitions against the import of commodities and products originating in Iraq and the prohibitions against financial transactions related thereto contained in resolution 661 (1990) shall have no further force or effect;

23. Decides that, pending action by the Security Council under paragraph 22 above, the Security Council Committee established by resolution 661 (1990) shall be empowered to approve, when required to assure adequate financial resources on the part of Iraq to carry out the activities under paragraph 20 above, exceptions to the prohibition against the import of commodities and products originating in Iraq;

24. Decides that, in accordance with resolution 661 (1990) and subsequent related resolutions and until a further decision is taken by the Security Council, all States shall continue to prevent the sale or supply, or the promotion or facilitation of such sale or supply, to Iraq by their nationals, or from their territories or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of:

(a) Arms and related materiel of all types, specifically including the sale or transfer through other means of all forms of conventional military equipment, including for paramilitary forces, and spare parts and components and their means of production, for such equipment;

(b) Items specified and defined in paragraphs 8 and 12 above not otherwise covered above;

(c) Technology under licensing or other transfer arrangements used in the production, utilization or stockpiling of items specified in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above;

(d) Personnel or materials for training or technical support services relating to the design, development, manufacture, use, maintenance or support of items specified in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above;

25. Calls upon all States and international organizations to act strictly in accordance with paragraph 24 above, notwithstanding the existence of any contracts, agreements, licences or any other arrangements;

26. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with appropriate Governments, to develop within sixty days, for the approval of the Security Council, guidelines to facilitate full international implementation of paragraphs 24 and 25 above and paragraph 27 below, and to make them available to all States and to establish a procedure for updating these guidelines periodically;

27. Calls upon all States to maintain such national controls and procedures and to take such other actions consistent with the guidelines to be established by the Security Council under paragraph 26 above as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the terms of paragraph 24 above, and calls upon international organizations to take all appropriate steps to assist in ensuring such full compliance;

28. Agrees to review its decisions in paragraphs 22, 23, 24 and 25 above, except for the items specified and defined in paragraphs 8 and 12 above, on a regular basis and in any case one hundred and twenty days following passage of the present resolution, taking into account Iraq's compliance with the resolution and general progress towards the control of armaments in the region;

29. Decides that all States, including Iraq, shall take the necessary measures to ensure that no claim shall lie at the instance of the Government of Iraq, or of any person or body in Iraq, or of any person claiming through or for the benefit of any such person or body, in connection with any contract or other transaction where its performance was affected by reason of the measures taken by the Security Council in resolution 661 (1990) and related resolutions;

G

30. Decides that, in furtherance of its commitment to facilitate the repatriation of all Kuwaiti and third country nationals, Iraq shall extend all necessary cooperation to the International Committee of the Red Cross, providing lists of such persons, facilitating the access of the International Committee of the Red Cross to all such persons wherever located or detained and facilitating the search by the International Committee of the Red Cross for those Kuwaiti and third country nationals still unaccounted for;

31. Invites the International Committee of the Red Cross to keep the Secretary-General apprised as appropriate of all activities undertaken in connection with facilitating the repatriation or return of all Kuwaiti and third country nationals or their remains present in Iraq on or after 2 August 1990;

H

32. Requires Iraq to inform the Security Council that it will not commit or support any act of international terrorism or allow any organization directed towards commission of such acts to operate within its territory and to condemn unequivocally and renounce all acts, methods and practices of terrorism; I

33. Declares that, upon official notification by Iraq to the Secretary-General and to the Security Council of its acceptance of the provisions above,[size=6] a formal cease-fire is effective between Iraq and Kuwait and the Member States cooperating with Kuwait in accordance with resolution 678 (1990); [/size]

34. Decides to remain seized of the matter and to take such further steps as may be required for the implementation of the present resolution and to secure peace and security in the area.

Full Text of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (1991)

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

Midweek Perspectives: An American assault on international law
The imminent invasion of Iraq will be an illegal, aggressive war, undermining our security in the long term

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

By Jules Lobel


Jules Lobel is a professor of international law at the University of Pittsburgh ([email protected]). He is vice president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, a nonprofit legal and educational organization based in New York.





Twelve years ago, the elder President George Bush took our country to war against Iraq and asserted that we were defending international law and world order based upon law. Now his son is poised to launch another war against Iraq, but this time in violation of the very international law principle his father invoked in 1991.






Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait violated Article 2(4) of the U.N. Charter, which prohibits one country from attacking another except in self-defense or with Security Council authorization. Our imminent invasion of Iraq will also violate Article 2(4). As U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan put it recently, "If the U.S. and others were to go outside the council and take military action, it would not be in conformity with the charter."

The U.N. Charter was in large part drafted by the United States in 1945. It is a solemn treaty commitment ratified by the U.S. Senate and under our Constitution constitutes a part of our "supreme law." The Charter has played an important role in preserving some semblance of international order in the turbulent post-World War II world. Our striking international isolation as we approach this war can not be attributed to French petulance, Russian reluctance or a hostile world. Rather, it is in large part a reflection of the fact that this war deeply offends a fundamental principle of the charter, which is widely accepted by international public opinion. This war will be an illegal, aggressive war.

The Bush administration's legal arguments for war are as shifting and problematic as its political rationales. At times, administration officials have claimed that we are acting in self-defense, which is permitted under Article 51 of the charter. However, a nation can employ self-defense under international law only if an armed attack occurs, or in response to an imminent attack.

The classic definition of an imminent attack, still authoritative today, was stated by Secretary of State Daniel Webster in 1842: The exception is "confined to cases in which the necessity of that self-defense is instant, overwhelming and leaving no choice of means and no moment for deliberation." The administration does not assert that Iraq is currently attacking the United States, nor that it has imminent plans to do so. None of the reasons given by the Bush administration for attacking Iraq, including destruction of weapons of mass destruction or overthrowing an evil dictator, constitute self-defense under the U.N. Charter.

Prior to this administration, the United States and virtually every other country in the world rejected the use of self-defense to justify the pre-emptive use of force to counter serious, nonimminent threats to their security.

For example, when the Kennedy administration forcefully quarantined Cuba in response to the Soviet placement of nuclear weapons 90 miles from U.S. territory, it expressly eschewed reliance on Article 51. Instead, Kennedy argued the Organization of American States authorization made that quarantine legal. To recognize the right of nations to launch pre-emptive attacks would completely eviscerate the charter's prohibition against the use of force and lead to anarchy.

Administration officials have also claimed that the U.N. Security Council has authorized their war against Iraq, a most peculiar argument in light of the Council's refusal to do just that in the past few weeks despite massive lobbying by the United States and Britain.

The administration's Orwellian argument is that U.N. Resolution 678, enacted in 1990 to authorize the United States and other states to use force to oust Iraq from Kuwait, now provides authority for a United States invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein 12 years later. However, that resolution was nullified by Cease Fire Resolution 687, which ended the war and directed Iraq to disarm. The enforcement of Resolution 687 was left to the Security Council and not individual nations. Paragraph 34 of Resolution 687 states the Council's decision " to remain seized of the matter and to take such further steps as may be required for the implementation of the present resolution and to secure peace and security in the area."

Nor did Resolution 1141, enacted by the Security Council in November, authorize the United States to use force against Iraq. That resolution required the inspectors to report to the Security Council, which would meet to decide what to do. The Security Council heard the inspectors report of some meaningful progress and refused to authorize force.

The U.S. military campaign may quickly defeat Iraq's army. In the short run, the law will be overwhelmed by military might. But history demonstrates that the long-term stability and security of the United States and the world depends on law and not mere power.

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

Nog, TomB?

[TomB]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Paulus de Boskabouter

Nog, TomB?

So and so, moet dat even laten bezinken.

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

Toch ook even deze leuke link meegeven.
Kans is wel groot dat jullie het al eerder gezien hebben, maar allé ; http://www.idleworm.com/nws/2002/11/iraq2.shtml

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door TomB aangevuld door PAULUS

Wel, nu zit ik in de LATE AVOND na te kijken en nog steeds geen enkele REACTIE OP DE rechtsregel die de VS gebroken heeft door naar Irak te gaan. Nog een dag of twee en ik trek de conclusie dat de VS perfect BUITEN het internationale recht handelde en dat alle protest GERECHTVAARDIGD was.

[TomB]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Paulus de Boskabouter

Hehe, niet echt, ik ben een tekstje aan het schrijven in reply, gaat wel even duren.

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door TomB

Hehe, niet echt, ik ben een tekstje aan het schrijven in reply, gaat wel even duren.

Ge gaat toch de VN resoluties niet veranderen hé!

[TomB]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Paulus de Boskabouter

Ge gaat toch de VN resoluties niet veranderen hé!

Neen, maar ik moet wel integraal 1441 doorlezen. Trouwens, uit uw eigen resolutie blijkt dat Frankrijk en Rusland beiden resoluties naast zich neerlegden. Toch straf dat ook zij hun veto gingen gebruiken, nietwaar.

[Paulus de Boskabouter]

mijn resolutie?
Ik schrijf die dingen niet hoor, TomB.


enkel de US in de zaak betrekken hé.
Dat was ook je vraag; US<->internationaal recht.

[TomB]

Oorspronkelijk geplaatst door Paulus de Boskabouter

mijn resolutie?
Ik schrijf die dingen niet hoor, TomB.


enkel de US in de zaak betrekken hé.
Dat was ook je vraag; US<->internationaal recht.

Aye, daarom moet ik nog wat meer lezen.

[TomB]

Alvast bedankt voor uw input BTW. Is eens iets anders dan van slogan naar slogan te scrollen.