3.5 |
Development of UK strategy and options, September to November 2002
–
the
negotiation of resolution 1441
On 10 and
11 October, the House of Representatives and the Senate passed a
joint
resolution
authorising the use of military force against Iraq.160
The
resolution expressed support for President Bush’s
efforts:
“to
–
(1)
strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all
relevant …
resolutions
regarding Iraq and encourages him in those efforts;
and
(2) obtain
prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that
Iraq
abandons
its strategy of delay, evasion and non‑compliance and promptly and
strictly
complies
with all relevant … resolutions …”
It also
authorised President Bush to:
“use the
Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary
and
appropriate
to –
(1) defend
the national security of the United States against he continuing
threat
posed by
Iraq; and
(2) enforce
all relevant United Nations … resolutions …”
Signing the
joint resolution on 16 October, President Bush stated that it
symbolised the
united
purpose of the nation and expressed the considered judgement of
Congress.161
Congress
had authorised the use of force but he had not ordered that use,
and he hoped
that would
not become necessary.
President
Bush added that confronting the threat from Iraq was:
“…
necessary, by whatever means that requires. Either the Iraqi regime
will give
up its
weapons of mass destruction, or, for the sake of peace, the United
States will
lead a
global coalition to disarm that regime …
“The Iraqi
regime is a serious and growing threat to peace … [T]he regime is
armed
with
biological and chemical weapons, possesses ballistic missiles,
promotes
international
terror and seeks nuclear weapons …
“If Iraq
gains even greater destructive power, nations in the Middle East
would face
blackmail,
intimidation or attack. Chaos in that region would be felt in
Europe and
beyond. And
Iraq’s combination of weapons of mass destruction and ties to
terrorist
groups and
ballistic missiles would threaten the peace and security of many
nations.
Those who
choose to live in denial may eventually be forced to live in
fear.”
President
Bush also called on the members of UN to meet the
challenge:
“Every
nation that shares in the benefits of peace also shares in the duty
of defending
the peace.
The time has arrived once again for the United Nations to live up
to the
purposes of
its founding to protect our common security …”
160
Almanac of
Policy Issues, 15 October 2002, Congressional
Resolution Authorizing Force Against Iraq.
161
The White
House, 16 October 2002, President
Signs Iraq Resolution.
283