November 08, 2002

UN adopts tough Iraq resolution

The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed a long-awaited resolution designed to force Iraq to give up its weapons of mass destruction.
Next steps
7 days: Iraq must confirm whether it will "comply fully" with the resolution
30 days: Iraq must reveal all programmes, plants and materials which could be used for weapons production
45 days: Inspectors must be allowed to resume their checks
Thereafter, inspectors have 60 days to report back to the Security Council but may report violations earlier
And US President George W Bush has told Iraq it will face "the severest consequences" if it does not comply with the new UN demands.

The chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, has said his team will go to Baghdad on 18 November to resume their work, backed by the new, tougher, rules which say they can check any site, including Saddam Hussein's palaces.

What a week.
What a world.
And what an effect a good election can have;
I don't think President Bush would do anything diffently, even if the Dims had run the table on Tuesday.
The difference is in his perceived power and prestige with the leaders of other countries.
I find it absolutely amazing (sort of) that this UNSC resolution was adopted unanimously: Syria voted "yes",too, for Heaven's sake!
I don't know about you, but now that battle is about to be joined [Let's face it: none of us, least of all the SC, expect Saddam to comply with inspections.], I'm still exhausted from the pace of this week's events.
I don't think I slept for 2 days earlier this week (Did anyone?!?) and as I awoke late this morning after finally getting 10 hours of slumber so deep it was more akin to a coma, I was presented with this UN news!
Gone are the days when I dream I ran off into the sunset with Mel Gibson; I dreamt instead that our GOP candidates really got 65% of the votes and that it was a true mandate for President Bush!
Strange days.
So, now perhaps the "phony war" ends and the "real" War begins...
'Bout time.