More than a decade ago allied forces spearheaded
by the US waged war on Iraq in response to the invasion of Kuwait.
After a few weeks of intensive allied bombardment, which included
over 100,000 sorties dropping an estimated 85,000 tons of bombs, Iraq
surrendered and agreed to abide by the UN resolutions set out in conditions
of surrender.
United Nations lifeline for Iraq
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| Iraq's
tyrannical leader Saddam Hussein |
The United Nations resolution demanded that the
Iraqi government totally disarm themselves of all weapons of mass
destruction and declare all activities in regard to the development
of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons to the United Nations
Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In order to ensure Iraq abide by the UN resolution weapons inspectors
were sent in shortly after the war to locate and destroy any illegal
weapons. However, after 4 years the inspectors decided that they had
to leave as the Iraqi government was not co-operating fully with their
program.
A strategy of containment was established and later abandoned
Despite the absence of weapons inspectors
in Iraq most people believed that they had been contained as they
were still living under strict sanctions, which permitted them to
only sell oil in return for food.
The United Nations believed that sanctions would contain the belligerent
Iraqi regime and severely damage any chances of them embarking on
a weapons of mass destruction program.
In addition to the strict sanctions Iraq has also been divided in
two by no-fly zones to the North and the South of the country and
US and British jets have been carrying out thousands of bombing sorties
since the official end of the Gulf War up until now.
However, the events of September 11 re-opened a new chapter in the
war with Iraq. All of a sudden it became a top priority to invade
Iraq, destroy all the so-called weapons of mass destruction before
they 'fall into the hands of terrorists', topple Saddam and his regime
and last but not least install a democratic government in Iraq.
The US & UK Government fail to impress the rest
Multi-millionaire oil baron and president of the United States of
America George W. Bush determined to finished the job his father started
embarked on a series of diplomatic dinner parties desperately trying
to gain the support of the international community to back an attack
on Iraq.
His first port of call was America's most trusted friends across the
pond, the UK government. Here he found our PM Tony Blair ready and
willing to roll in the desert sand with him despite the fierce opposition
by the people of the United Kingdom.
Tony Blair in turn began a mission to persuade the rest of Europe
to back the US but his war cries were rejected and dismissed as a
knee-jerk reaction to 9/11.
Instead the Security Council negotiated with Iraq to allow UN inspectors
back into the country. According to the head of the weapons inspection
team, Iraq has been complying by allowing access to buildings of interest
and they are yet to find any so-called weapons of mass destruction.
The US and the UK government have ignored his reports and continue
to try and convince the rest of the United Nations Security Council
that Iraq does have WMD's and the time for action is now.
With the UN Security Council divided down the middle and multilateral
action looking like a distant dream the US reiterated their intention
to take unilateral action in defiance of the wishes of the United
Nations.
Isn't it ironic that the US government intend on defying the United
Nations in order to enforce a United Nations sanction.
US & British troops are locked, cocked and ready to rock
While the rest of the world is engaging in debate over Iraq the US
and UK government seem to have made their minds made up and have already
mobilised tens of thousands of troops and military hardware in the
Gulf.
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| Awesome!
A US B52 bomber delivering it's deadly payload |
They say it is a statement to the Iraqi regime to
demonstrate they mean business but most people believe that statement
in itself is a euphemism for 'unilateral action' directed more towards
the countries that make up the UN Security Council.
The US are trying to amass around 300,000 troops in key positions
around Iraq and the UK government has already committed one thirds
of our military to the region plus several warships and strike aircraft.
To add to the war rhetoric Gordon Brown recently pledged an extra
£750 million towards the war effort. That brings the total sum of
tax-payers money injected into the UK war machine to £1.75 billion
and if we do engage in hostilities that figure could double before
the last bomb is dropped and then there is the costly clear-up and
peace-keeping operation.
Citizens of the world declare 'Not In Our Name'
The publishing of this poll was timed to coincide with the series
of peaceful protests staged in several major cities across the world.
The protest in London saw a staggering 2,000,000 people turn up to
declare that an attack on Iraq is not justified and will not be done
in their name. The protestors marched through the streets of central
London and converged in Hyde Park to listen to speeches from anti-war
politicians, statesmen and women and celebrities. Similar marches
have taken place in the United States, Australia, Italy, Turkey, France,
Germany, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
If there is one thing that the protests demonstrated it is that there
is a clear consensus among the people in the United Kingdom and elsewhere
that we do not want to attack Iraq. Whether or not the UK government
listens to the voices of its people is another matter and only time
will tell. |
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