People's Democracy

UN Security Council Resolution on Iraq

By Our Commentator

A NEW stage has been reached in the ongoing American plans to attack Iraq. The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution about sending weapons inspectors to Iraq. The 15 Member Council voted for the resolution 1441 after the United States and Britain presented a revised draft after eight weeks of protracted negotiations.

The unanimous resolution does not mean that there is agreement on how to deal with Iraq. As far as the United States and its sole ally Britain are concerned, the Security Council resolution is a maneouvre to get the stamp of UN legitimacy for its actual aim of militarily attacking and occupying Iraq.  For the other members of the Council, the resolution is a means to finding a solution to the adamant US stand to disarm Iraq of any potential weapons of mass destruction. For them, it is a means to avoid war.

The three other permanent members of the Security Council, France, Russia and China had the common purpose of preventing a military attack on Iraq. The French government was prominent in insisting that a new resolution cannot be used as an instrument for a military attack. It is due to the firm stand of France and the support it got from Russia and China that the United States was forced to dilute the severity of the first draft. After the revised draft met some of the objections of France and Russia, the way was paved for its adoption.

As per the resolution Iraq is required to immediately allow weapons inspectors into the country. It must provide a comprehensive declaration of its weapons programme within thirty days. The inspectors are to report back to the Security Council sixty days after the inspection work begins.

After Iraqi government's announcement that it will comply with the resolution, the scene has now shifted to Iraq. The US will do its utmost to try and find fault with the Iraqi government’s compliance with the inspection schedule. President Bush and his coterie of hawks have made it clear that they are not prepared to give up their war plans.

The Security Council will be required to take a stand once the inspection teams sends its reports to it. The danger of war is still very real. All over the world, especially in Europe, people are mobilising in large numbers to oppose the US plans for aggression. The coming days will be crucial to mobilise world public opinion to thwart the plans of the war mongers.