UN Resolutions -- a precis
Thanks to Neil Boortz, who was talking about this on the raadio this am whilst I was cleaning out stalls, I went looking at some of the UN Resolutions about Iraq. Here lies a very imprecise precis of what I read: [a more detailed executive summary in in the extended entry. click “You want more?!?"]
#660—[2 August 1990] Iraq; yer screwin’ around with Kuwait—knock it off!
#661—[6 August 1990] Iraq; yer not leaving Kuwait—we’re cuttin’ off yer $$$. Get outta there!
#662—[9 August 1990] Iraq; don’t be a moron—calling it “annexing Kuwait” ain’t gonna fly.
#664—[18 August 1990] Iraq; leave the diplomats and Red Cross nurses alone!
#665—[25 August 1990] We’re checkin’ the ships to make sure you don’t get any $$$. Leave Kuwait alone, we said!
#666—[13 September 1990] Now we’re gonna hafta dig up and fly in extra food! You’re making a mess! Leave Kuwait alone!!
#667—[16 September 1990] Stop raping the diplomats!!
#669—[24 September 1990] Jordan is getting twisted by the embargo. Gee. We’ll look into that real soon now.
#670—[25 September 1990] Now, gotdammit, Iraq!! You’re being a paininneass!! Everybody, don’t let them have their allowance $$$!
#674—[29 October 1990] Iraq! How many times am I gonna hatfa tell you—Leave your little brother Kuwait alone !!!
#677—[28 November 1990] Not only are you hurting Kuwait—now we’re gonna hafta clean up after you trashing its records ?!? Whatdahellz the matter with you???
#678—[29 November 1990] OK! That’s it !! You’re gettin’ a whoopin’!!
#687—[3 April 1991] Ok. You’ve had your whoopin’. Promise not to do it again. And no scaring the rest of the kids. Now give me that bat you were hitting him with. Right Now! Whaddya mean you “can’t find it” ?!?!
More precisely, in Resolution 687 [29 November 1990] Saddam agreed to a plan wherein he would tell what weapons he had and surrender them in return for US/allied forces not marching into Baghdad. He was given a 15 day deadline.
In 2002, about 3,900 days after Saddam’s deadline, the UN passed Resolution 1441 which gave him one [more] last chance to comply with the inspections.
Each of these Resolutions has in its first paragraph a reference invoking all the previous Resolutions. Resolution 678 gives all member States the directive “to use all necessary means to uphold and implement resolution 660” [kick Iraq out of Kuwait (done) ] “and all subsequent relevant resolutions and to restore international peace and security in the area.” It doesn’t seem like tortured reasoning to call #687 and #1441 “subsequent relevant resolutions.”
So, better late than never, I think I see how the US has not violated UN law by invading Iraq and taking out the trash.
I wasn’t particularly hot to look this up at first because the line of reasoning having to do with the security of the US made, and still makes more sense to me. As Saddam has proven himself to be a liar and a psycho, and indications that he was playing footsie with al Quida are now being demonstrated true, he was a threat to the US. Not to mention Europe, Britain, and others. And I’m sure Europe won’t mention it. Nevertheless. . .
If a democratic society can be brought about in Iraq, other Arab individuals—real people, not states, not the “street"—will be able to see the possible benefits of this particular way of living. Like indoor plumbing, and an economy.
So, I guess in essence, Osama is correct in his perceptions: this is a war about a way of life and a basic philosophy toward Life. Let’s just not let it get out of hand, eh? One of the tenets we are fighting for is the right to live in a cave if one wants to—so long as one doesn’t shoot one’s neighbor.
Yes. I do know I was being flip about a very serious subject in the above rendition of these Resolutions. The advantage of humour is that it gives a different perspective and thereby shedding light on different options. So don’t fuss at me.
#660—[2 August 1990] Tells Iraq to leave Kuwait
#661—[6 August 1990] Tells all States not to have any import/export dealings with Iraq or Kuwait while protecting and supporting the legitimate government of Kuwait. ["economic sanctions"]
#662—[9 August 1990] Decides that the annexation of Kuwait by Iraq is invalid, null and void.
#664—[18 August 1990] Demands the release/departure of all third State nationals [diplomats, NGOs, etc.] from Kuwait. Reaffirms #662.
#665—[25 August 1990] Inspection of all maritime shipping, in and out, of Kuwait, “to ensure strict implementation” of #661.
#666—[13 September 1990] “Emphasizing that it is for the Security Council ... to determine whether humanitarian circumstances have arisen,” keep an eye on “the availability of food” in Iraq and Kuwait and directs that, if necessary, humanitarian aid shall be supplied by the appropriate agencies [Red Cross, et al.]
#667—[16 September 1990] Notices that Iraq is messing about with diplomatic missions and personnel and directs them to knock it off.
#669—[24 September 1990] Jordan seeks “relief under Article 50 of the Charter of the UN resulting from the implementation of the measures required under #661” Entrusts the appropriate committee to “examine” and “make recommendations” in re Jordan’s request.
#670—[25 September 1990] Notes yet again that Iraq is being quite the a$$hole in Kuwait, killing people, blowing shit up and the like, reminds all States to “carry out their obligations ... compliance with #661 [sanctions], including aircraft, might We remind you. Decides that all States, notwithstanding contracts, agreements, etc., shall not allow any aircraft for leave, land on, or overfly their territories unless it is approved humanitarian aid. All states must detain “any ships of Iraqi registry” or deny them entrance, freeze Iraqi assets. Decides to consider “measures directed at the State in question” ..."to prevent evasion” of these policies. *woof*
#674—[29 October 1990] Reaffirms all of the above.
#677—[28 November 1990] Condemns the attempts by Iraq to “alter the demographic composition of Kuwait” [like...uh, killing ‘em all?] and to “destroy the civil records.” Mandates the Secretary-General to get and keep an authentic copy of Kuwait’s population records.
#678—[29 November 1990] “Demands” that Iraq comply with all of the above. “Authorizes Member States co-operating with the Government of Kuwait...to use all necessary means to uphold and implement resolution 660 and all subsequent relevant resolutions and to restore international peace and security in the area” Gives Iraq until January 15, 1991
pp3 “Requests all States to provide appropriate support for the actions undertaken ...
#687—[3 April 1991] [after Kuwait was “restored to its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity."] Affirms the “Agreed Minutes between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq” [their peace treaty] and dispatches a UN observer to monitor the DMZ.
Now, heres the relevant part:
Decides that Iraq shall unconditionally accept the destruction, removal, or rendering harmless...of:
- all chemical biological weapons… stocks… related subsystems, components… development… support… manufacturing facilities
- all ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 km ...related parts… production facilities
And Iraq shall submit a list of locations amounts and types of all of the above.
and [12.] “Iraq shall not acquire or develop nuclear weapons or nuclear-weapon-usable material or any subsystems of components or any research, development, support or manufacturing facilities related to the above” Just hand that over to UN right now. Oh, and no transporting or selling any of that stuff, either.
and [32.] “Requires Iraq to inform the 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;”
NB: The wording requires Iraq to “inform,” not to actually “refrain from doing” any of these things.
#1441—[8 November 2002] Ok. One last chance—don’t lie now. “Demands that Iraq confirm within seven days of notification its intention to comply fully...” Continued violations “will face serious consequences.”
The UN’s version of their resolutions can be found here [1990] and here [1991]. Note that all particular Resolutions are pdf downloads averaging 1 or 2 kb.
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