U.S. Backs Down on Iraq in U.N.

U.S. Backs Down on Iraq in U.N. – or Does It?

NewsMax.com Wires
Friday, Oct. 18, 2002

The United States has dropped America's longstanding demand that a U.N. resolution on Iraq should automatically trigger military consequences for any violation of the weapons inspection regime by Saddam Hussein, U.S. officials said Thursday.

However, Fox News reported that "America diplomats on Thursday disputed reports that the United States was 'backing down' in its demand for a single U.N. resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq."

In an effort to break a deadlock in the U.N. Security Council, Secretary of State Colin Powell shared new language with diplomats in New York.

One State Department official told United Press International that the new language says there are "serious consequences for non-compliance, but it will not specify the use of force."

The new proposal states that Iraqi non-compliance with the inspections regime would automatically trigger a meeting of the council, but does not say such violations would authorize "member states to use all necessary means to restore international peace and security in the area," code for military action, as an earlier U.S.-British proposal had.

The new proposal, a draft of which was obtained by UPI, says in the event of Iraq's obstruction of weapons inspectors, the Security Council would convene "in order to consider the situation and the need for full compliance with all the relevant Security Council resolutions in order to restore peace and security."

The State Department official said, "Basically we are willing to have [any alleged Iraqi breaches] go to the council."

This official said the chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, would judge whether the Iraqis provided him with full access to weapons sites, but he alone could not determine whether Iraq was in "material breach" of council resolutions.

However, under the new proposal, should Blix judge he is being obstructed, the U.N. Security Council would have to hold an emergency session to consider the international response.

The new position represents a potential breakthrough in negotiations with France, a veto-wielding member of the Security Council. The French have pushed for a two-stage approach since September: one resolution outlining Iraq's obligations and a second one specifying the consequences.

U.S. officials said Thursday that they hoped the compromise position of not automatically triggering war would placate French concerns.

But it remained unclear whether it would.

"Discussions are going on in a good mood between France and the United States," a French diplomat said. "Good, but not finished."

Powell told reporters in New York Thursday: "We are in consultations with our French colleagues as well as Chinese and British colleagues as well as other members of the Security Council on a resolution. Those conversations are going well and are continuing.

"Our belief that one resolution is what is appropriate, that makes it clear that Iraq has been in violation in material breach of U.N. resolutions for a long period of time." Powell also said there needed to be consequences for non-compliance.

Fox News: 'Not Backing Off'

FNC, however, reported that "diplomats predicted that the toughly worded message to Saddam Hussein that the U.S. wants will be passed by the U.N. Security Council."

It quoted a "diplomatic source" as saying, "Not only are we not backing off a single resolution, we are going to get one."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Editor's note:
Have an Opinion About This? Send an URGENT PriorityGram Today