May 22, 2003
The Independent (UK)

Anti-war Nations Approve New UN Resolution on Iraq

by David Usborne and Stephen Castle

Opposition to a draft United Nations resolution that gives sweeping powers to the United States and Britain to rule Iraq and take control of its oil revenues melted away last night, . . .

The concessions include giving a more elevated status to a special UN representative who will be appointed to help the occupying powers set up a government in Iraq, and extending for six months UN involvement in the spending of Iraq's oil revenues. The text will none the less give Britain and the US the legal cover they were seeking to take control of the country for at least a year. . . .

Tony Blair has been warned by the Attorney General that the continued British and American occupation of Iraq could be ruled illegal under international law unless it was approved by the Security Council. Lord Goldsmith warns that the occupying powers should not attempt wide-ranging reforms of the country's administration, judicial system or status of its public officials.

FULL TEXT

Tweet
Follow @wisdomfund

"Palace Being Renovated for U.S. Occupation," Los Angeles Times, May 9, 2003

[". . . the American people may have been lured into accepting the unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation, in violation of long-standing International law, under false premises. There is ample evidence that the horrific events of September 11 have been carefully manipulated to switch public focus from Osama Bin Laden and Al Queda who masterminded the September 11th attacks, to Saddam Hussein who did not."--US Senator Robert Byrd, "The Truth Will Emerge," Senate Floor Remarks, May 21, 2003]

RESOLUTION KEY POINTS
US and UK to maintain most of the power
Occupying forces to remain till new government formed
Situation to be reviewed within a year
UN to appoint special representative to help form new government
Sanctions to be lifted, though arms embargo will stay
Russian and French companies will be able to complete lucrative contracts
Return of UN weapons inspectors to be considered
$1bn Iraq Development Fund to be launched

["The plan is being seen as a big change of heart among the Americans, who had been reluctant to allow the return of UN inspectors to look for the alleged banned weapons which were the main reason for launching the war.

"The US's own teams in Iraq have found no proof of a chemical, biological or nuclear arsenal."--"War critics back US Iraq plans," BBC News, May 22, 2003]

["The measure grants the United States and Britain an extraordinary amount of authority over Iraq's political and economic affairs until a representative, internationally recognized government is installed. . . .

"The financial issues involved the control of Iraqi oil revenues, the disposition of $400 billion of debt owed by Mr. Hussein's government, and contracts approved and financed through the United Nations' oil-for- food program.

"The oil revenues will be controlled by the United States and Britain, but the management of the new Development Fund for Iraq, which will hold these funds in the Central Bank of Iraq, will be monitored by an advisory board with representation from international financial institutions and the United Nations, . . ."-- Felicity Barringer, "U.S. Wins Support to End Sanctions Imposed on Iraq," New York Times, May 22, 2003]

["Iraqis said on Thursday the United States wanted to lift crippling sanctions on Iraq to have a free hand with the country's oil reserves, the world's second largest after Saudi Arabia."--Hassan Hafidh, "Iraqis Suspect U.S. Motive Behind Sanctions Move," Reuters, May 22, 2003]

["A coalition of over 150 peace groups and global non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is lashing out at the U.N. Security Council for adopting a resolution (#1483) that virtually legitimises the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and endorses the foreign occupation of a U.N. member state. "--Thalif Deen, "NGOs Decry 'Bribes' and 'Threats' Behind U.N. Vote," Inter Press Service, May 22, 2003]

["THE leading opponents of war in Iraq capitulated to raw American power yesterday as the United Nations Security Council voted overwhelmingly to give Britain and the US broad control of the country."--James Bone, "UN gives in to coalition administration of Iraq," Times Online, May 23, 2003]

["Unsurprisingly, the UN security council has capitulated completely, recognised the occupation of Iraq and approved its re-colonisation by the US and its bloodshot British adjutant. The timing of the mea culpa by the "international community" was perfect. Yesterday, senior executives from more than 1,000 companies gathered in London to bask in the sunshine of the re-established consensus under the giant umbrella of Bechtel, the American empire's most favoured construction company. A tiny proportion of the loot will be shared.

"The UN has now provided retrospective sanction to a pre-emptive strike. Its ill-fated predecessor, the League of Nations, at least had the decency to collapse after its charter was serially raped. Analogies with Hitler's blitzkrieg of 1940 are drawn without compunction by cheerleaders for the war."--Tariq Ali, "The UN has capitulated. Now let the north's plunder of the south begin again," Times Online, May 24, 2003]

"U.S. Charged With War Crimes," Information Clearing House, May 24, 2003

Rajiv Chandrasekaran, "U.S. to Appoint Council in Iraq: Officials Decide Not to Allow Large Assembly to Pick Interim Leaders," Washington Post, June 2, 2003

Elaine Cassell, "How Goes the Occupation?," CounterPunch, July 21, 2003

[They erected a fence of barbed wire, stretched over wooden poles, and laid spirals of razor wire around the village, a cluster of mud-and-brick homes set in orchards of pears and pomegranates about six miles south of Tikrit.

Checkpoints were set up at all roads leading into the village of about 3,500 residents--Katarina Kratovac, "U.S. forces seal off Saddam's birthplace," Associated Press, October 31, 2003]

[American soldiers have begun wrapping entire villages in barbed wire.--Dexter Filkins, " John F. Burns and Tom Shanker, "U.S. Officials Fashion Legal Basis to Keep Force in Iraq," New York Times, March 26, 2004