Proposed Iraq Resolution

     Recognizing that to prevent “the scourge of war,” not to promote it, was the primary purpose of the United Nations,
     Stressing that Article 2 of the Charter requires members to “settle their international disputes by peaceful means” and prohibits “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,”
     Affirming that the threat by President George W. Bush of the United States and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom of offensive action against Iraq to achieve a “regime change,” and the planning for such action, run contrary to the primary purpose of the United Nations and specifically Article 2 of the Charter,
     Fearful that many thousands and perhaps millions of children, women, and men would die in the type of war being planned against Iraq, inasmuch as the U.S. military has announced plans to launch as many as 1,500 daily bombing sorties and 400 daily cruise missiles, attacking everywhere in Baghdad at once, in effect “like the nuclear weapons at Hiroshima” (CBS News, Jan. 24, 2003),
     Noting that over a million Iraqi civilians have died from sanctions and bombings so far and that a war, by the estimate of a United Nations task force, would place 10 million others at mortal risk from hunger and disease, aside from those killed directly by the bombs,
     Declaring that the massive bombings of civilian communities that are planned, as well as the unauthorized bombings of Iraq that U.S. and British forces have conducted for years, violate international laws formulated at The Hague and Geneva,
     Worried that a war in Iraq could lead to widespread wars in the region, to a world war, and to the use of nuclear bombs, even though the International Court of Justice has found such use contrary to international law,
     Aware that Mr. Bush has cited Iraq’s alleged stock of weapons of mass destruction as a rationale for war in Iraq, although such weapons were supplied to Iraq by the United States and other countries before the 1991 war, the Government of Iraq has unconditionally agreed to arms inspections, and arms inspectors have said that efforts to disarm Iraq are succeeding, despite false evidence to the contrary,
     Concerned that Mr. Bush has alleged a connection between Iraq and terrorists, although U.S. and British intelligence sources have discounted the allegation and a BBC News report (Feb. 5, 2003) said, “There are no current links between the Iraqi regime and the al-Qaeda network, according to an official British intelligence report seen by BBC News,”
     Convinced that the allegations that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction and supports those responsible for the terrorism of September 11, 2001, are designed to fabricate a claim of self-defense to obtain support for an attack on Iraq,
     Observing that Mr. Bush openly admits that he aims at a “regime change,” an objective for which the threat or use of force is prohibited by the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Calls on all nations to refrain from the threat or use of force against Iraq,
2. Insists that the inspectors assigned to Iraq by the United Nations be allowed full opportunity to carry out their functions, in accord with existing resolutions of the Security Council,
3. Demands that bombings in Iraq cease immediately and not be resumed,
4. Forbids the presence of any foreign armed forces in the territory or air space of Iraq, except as the United Nations may direct in its efforts toward peace.

     Affirming that under General Assembly resolution 377, “Uniting for Peace,” if the Security Council, because of lack of unanimity of the permanent members, fails to maintain international peace and security in case of a threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression, the General Assembly shall consider the matter immediately with a view to making recommendations to members for collective measures.
     Recognizing that to prevent “the scourge of war,” not to promote it, was the primary purpose of the United Nations,
     Stressing that Article 2 of the Charter requires members to “settle their international disputes by peaceful means” and prohibits “the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state,”
     Declaring that the threat by President George W. Bush of the United States and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom of offensive action against Iraq to achieve a “regime change,” and the planning for such action, run contrary to the primary purpose of the United Nations and specifically Article 2 of the Charter,
     Fearful that many thousands and perhaps millions of children, women, and men would die in the type of war being planned against Iraq, inasmuch as the U.S. military has announced plans to launch as many as 1,500 daily bombing sorties and 400 daily cruise missiles, attacking everywhere in Baghdad at once, in effect “like the nuclear weapons at Hiroshima” (CBS News, Jan. 24, 2003),
     Noting that over a million Iraqi civilians have died from sanctions and bombings so far and that
a war, by the estimate of a United Nations task force, would place 10 million others at mortal risk from hunger and disease, aside from those killed directly by the bombs,
     Declaring that the massive bombings of civilian communities that are planned, as well as the unauthorized bombings of Iraq that U.S. and British forces have conducted for years, violate international laws formulated at The Hague and Geneva,
     Worried that a war in Iraq could lead to widespread wars in the region, to a world war, and to the use of nuclear bombs, even though the International Court of Justice has found such use contrary to international law,
     Aware that Mr. Bush has cited Iraq’s alleged stock of weapons of mass destruction as a rationale for war in Iraq, although such weapons were supplied to Iraq by the United States and other countries before the 1991 war, the Government of Iraq has unconditionally agreed to arms inspections, and arms inspectors have said that efforts to disarm Iraq are succeeding, despite false evidence to the contrary,
     Concerned that Mr. Bush has alleged a connection between Iraq and terrorists, although U.S. and British intelligence sources have discounted the allegation and a BBC News report (Feb. 5, 2003) said, “There are no current links between the Iraqi regime and the al-Qaeda network, according to an official British intelligence report seen by BBC News,”
     Convinced that the allegations that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction and supports those responsible for the terrorism of September 11, 2001, are designed to fabricate a claim of self-defense to obtain support for an attack on Iraq,
     Observing that Mr. Bush openly admits that he aims at a “regime change,” an objective for which the threat or use of force is prohibited by the Charter of the United Nations,

1. Calls on all nations to refrain from the threat or use of force against Iraq,
2. Insists that the inspectors assigned to Iraq by the United Nations be allowed full opportunity to carry out their functions, in accord with existing resolutions of the Security Council,
3. Demands that all bombings in Iraq cease immediately and not be resumed,
4. Forbids the presence of any foreign armed forces in the territory and air space of Iraq, except as the United Nations may direct in its efforts toward peace.

War and Law League, P.O. Box 42-7237, San Francisco, CA 94142; warandlaw@yahoo.com; www.warandlaw.homestead.com