smilingassassin

Saddam murdering hundreds of thousands of his own people, bluffing he had WMD's (while telling the UN he didn't have them) and most importantly the fact that his forces violated cease fire agreements on many occations makes the war LEGAL....period.

I don't need to pussyfoot around the issue with lawyer mumbo jumbo to tell me that. The UN has done little to stop Genocide and thats not the fault of the Troops that have worked for the UN, it a flaw in the operational doctrine towards peace. Look at the Sudan now, just like Rwanda and Somalia the UN does very little to secure peace.

Whats needed is strong military action to MAKE peace, then the UN comes in and KEEPS the peace. Thats the way it should be, but the UN seems to think its grander than it is and feels it should dictate when to use force but cannot carry out such acts of force.

Its like scolding a child telling him about the punishment he will recive as a result of being disobedient and not carrying out the punishment but instead repeating the threats of punishment.

Julie

Saddam launched his political career in 1958 by assassinating a supporter of Iraqi ruler Abdul-Karim Qassim. He was sentenced to death in absentia for this act. He escaped from jail, returned to Iraq, and in 1968 was involved in a coup that brought his uncle to power, of which Saddam became a de facto leader of Iraq.

Why even question the legalities of the removal of Saddam if he obtained leadership by illegal means?

Anon

"Because it does not make it international law.... therefore, US actions were still illegal."

The US had complete legal authority to attack under the terms of the 1991 ceasefire agreement.

Sorry skippy.

konkerer

You are recalling a fictious event, it did not happen.

The war in Iraq was illegal becuase it violated the UN charter #55 or some such cahrter.

UNSC did not apporve of this, war was illegal not becuase UNSC not disapprove of it, but because it vilated the UN charter.

Kofi Annan, UNSG said the war was illegal.

Officer of Engineers

Koffi Annan has NO AUTHORITY to declare the war illegal. His exact words were "a Point of View."

__________________
Chimo

Ray

Colonel,

But was it legal?

Kofi Anan indeed is not the decider of the issue.

Officer of Engineers

Sir,

I don't know if it was legal, Sir. I know it's not illegal. Because once the UNSC declares something as illegal, it is compelled to do something about it, maybe even a strongly worded document at the minimum to outright military actions at the maximun.

To put things in context, Sir. The Sino-Vietnam War was not illegal. The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan was not illegal. The Kosovo War was not illegal. Rwanda was not a genocide. So, those people who pushes the UN Charter to the hilt about the Iraq War knows damned little on how that Charter has failed.

To my mind, it's a very simple answer. No one is punishing the US.

Franco Lolan

The war, in terms of international law under the parameters established by the UN, was illegal.

However, was it justifiable? That's another question to which I would say, yes.

Also, ask yourself how many wars have been "legal"? (2) "The world" (certain state actors opposing the actions taken) protests only when against their interest.

For example: NATO intervention in Balkans. That was "illegal" at the time it was done.

Officer of Engineers

No, Franco, you have very little understanding of the UN. I was on the receiving end of the UN bullcrap during my time in UNPROFOR. I know how International Law can be twisted left, right, and centre and the facts be damned.

Muslims bombed their own civies in front of CNN cameras and blamed the Serbs. The UN said the Serbs were guilty and end of that.

Srebrenecia was a safe haven but UNPROFOR was specifically forbidden to evict the Serbs.

The UN refused to declare Rwanda a genocide and forced a Chapter 7 Intervention. Right, there was no genocide and of all the gall, the mother****, sh!t sucking, dick blowing, leg spreaded witch whore Annan was the one who directly ordered General Dallaire not to proceed with a pre-emptive strike that would have prevented that genocide and the fvcking idiot got the gall to say the Iraq War is illegal?

Also, only the Kosovo War was not legal. Every other NATO action in the Balkans had UN approval.

Shek

Konkerer,
Here's some links to ficticious articles on ficticious websites about my ficticiuos event.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3133044.stm

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1290760/posts

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewForeignBu...20041202b.html

Here's article 55 from the UN Charter:
With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, the United Nations shall promote:
a. higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development;
b. solutions of international economic, social, health, and related problems; and international cultural and educational co- operation; and
c. universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.

You should try to put effort into your arguments. In fact, if you actually read this thread, you can find the articles that could support an argument that the US led invasion of Iraq was illegal. You can also use the link I put in earlier in the thread and see that it also has links to pro-illegal arguments - a sign that I'm using some non-partisan websites to find information.

You should use the internet to search for information instead of just posting bad informaiton.

Blademaster

How did Annan have that authority? He was not the UN general secretary at that time

Confed999

__________________
No man is free until all men are free - John Hossack
I agree completely with this Administration’s goal of a regime change in Iraq-John Kerry
even if that enforcement is mostly at the hands of the United States, a right we retain even if the Security Council fails to act-John Kerry
He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It’s the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat-John Kerry

Abbott

Can you handle the truth?

I am an American. I am a Vet. If the war in Iraq was legal or not means nothing to me. I flat out don't care. I am so sick of Muslim terrorist’s, insurgents, Palestinian’s, suicide bombers, Koran abuse and everything thing that goes along with the stupid intolerant adolescent nature of Muslims and the Middle East that I could care less if the US and it’s allies attacked Iran, Syria or Saudi Arabia tomorrow. I can also give you my next-door neighbor’s opinion. He is Native American (Navajo), a retired firefighter and a Vietnam Vet. His opinion and I quote “I think we should just turn the Jews loose”.

Franco Lolan

I completely agree with what you have stated. I'm sorry that you had to go through that time. I think I understand the UN and how actions are taken based on countries' interest, regardless of the law. I was referring to Kosovo, sorry. Don't you agree though, that it was in terms of the UN Charter, illegal? UNSC has to approve.

Franco Lolan

"I'd like to know the opinion of each individual who views this sight on whether or not the US led war in Iraq was LEGAL ???"

Opinions mean nothing in terms of legality. IF we want to talk about opinions in regards to justified, ok.