Posted on 09/12/2002 12:05:11 AM PDT by kattracks
COPENHAGEN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Denmark's Prime Minister, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said a new U.N. resolution might not be needed to launch a U.S.-led military attack on Iraq, local news agency Ritzau reported on Thursday.
U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to lay out his case for action against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly later on Thursday. Bush will make his pitch to an audience of world leaders who have been largely sceptical of the need for making war on Iraq.
"It's a legal discussion, politically it would be an advantage if possible actions were based on a new resolution," the agency quoted Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen for saying.
"But Saddam Hussein has already violated several U.N. resolutions and obviously that must have a consequence. It undermines the authority of the U.N. if he can ignore the resolutions without some kind of reactions are implemented."
Fogh said an attack on Iraq must be based on a mandate from the U.N. but existing resolutions could be enough as Saddam Hussein has refused access for U.N. weapon inspectors.
Rasmussen will also address the U.N. assembly on behalf on the 15-nation European Union. EU states have taken differing positions on a possible U.S.-led strike on Iraq and there is widespread opposition to unilateral U.S. military action. Britain has given Bush strongest support.
U.N. weapons inspectors, sent to Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War to destroy any nuclear, biological or chemical weapons there, left in 1998 and have not been allowed to return.
((Per Bech Thomsen +45 33 96 96 56, fax +45 33 93 84 57, copenhagen.newsroom@reuters.com))
© Reuters Limited.
As if the UN tinpot despots would have made a peep about Sadaams noncompliance if we weren't hot to kick their terrorist *sses.
I'd say Dubya and Tony Blair have been very very busy behind the scenes. I'm interested to see what Russia actually does instead of what they say; China too. I got my fingers crossed that Dubya has already lined up all his ducks and is going to make a monkey out of his opposition.
BTW, has anybody given any thought to what we should do or what will happen if Dubya gets a hostile reception at the UN today? I mean, if he gets booed or they turn their backs on him? I don't think they would- they wouldn't dare- but you never know. Remember in Germany when he gave his speech to the Bundestag? They had their looney communists with the sign?
Another thing that concerns me is security. Some of the people listening to his speech will be from countries we are more or less at war with. These characters have diplomatic immunity to searches and things don't they? Who knows what they might be carrying into the room with 'em. Just a thought. I don't want to get anybody riled up, but I hope the Secret Service have thought of this angle.
Denmark is ruled by conservatives who are taking a much harder stance on Muslims, particularly after some nasty gang rapes perpetrated on Danish girls by Arab "refugees".
Regards, Ivan
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.