U.N. Resolution example essay topic

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Despite official Iraqi silence, Arab ministers indicated Sunday Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) was ready to accept a U.N. resolution to disarm, with Syria's foreign minister assuring Arab governments the Security Council document does not authorize the use of American military force. AP Photo AP Photo Slideshow: Iraq and Saddam Hussein Objections Emerge To U.S. Resolution (Reuters) If Baghdad fails to follow through, however, U.S. officials said a Pentagon (news - web sites) plan calls for more than 200,000 troops to invade Iraq. In brief remarks as he entered Sunday's meeting, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naj i Sabri said only that the Arab position is firm in rejecting any use of U.S. military force. A day earlier Sabri said 'no decision has been taken,' but several other Arab diplomats at a late-night Saturday meeting of the Arab League said Iraq had already accepted the resolution. Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said early Sunday morning, 'I think we can expect a positive position by the Iraqis. ' Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal also indicated Iraq would accept the resolution that dictates return of arms inspectors.

'They (Arab ministers) welcomed Iraq's approval of this resolution with the confirmation that Syria received that there would be no automatic military action,' Saud said. Syria, whose surprise agreement to the U.N. Security Council resolution allowed for 15-0 passage on Friday, defended its vote. 'We have struggled and shouldered a lot of difficulties to bring about the resolution,' Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa told journalists Sunday. Al-Sharaa said he received a letter from Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) 'in which he stressed that there is nothing in the resolution to allow it to be used as a pretext to launch a war on Iraq and that if the U.S. administration had any intention of resorting to military action, this resolution wouldn't have taken seven weeks. ' On Sunday, Iraq's state-controlled media carried no news about the resolution, not even the usual vitriolic editorials blaming the United States for pushing the Security Council into a tough stance. Saddam himself has said nothing publicly about Friday's unanimously adopted resolution.

The United States and Britain have threatened military action against Iraq if Baghdad does not fully comply with the U.N. resolution. The New York Times reported late Saturday on its Web site that Bush has approved a Pentagon plan for invading Iraq, should the new U.N. arms inspection effort fail. Several White House officials reached Saturday declined to comment on the report, but defense officials said on condition of anonymity that the plan calls for a land, sea and air force of 200,000 to 250,000 troops, at least twice the number initially considered. The Pentagon already is moving forces into position to ensure that it will be capable of launching swift strikes into Iraq, should Bush decide on war. Sabri tried Saturday to put the best face on the U.N. blueprint for renewed arms inspection. He said that in the diplomatic haggling that led to passage of the resolution, the international community succeeded in diluting U.S. plans for aggression on Iraq.

In Washington, President Bush (news - web sites) praised the 15-0 vote, saying the resolution 'presents the Iraqi regime with a test, a final test. ' Iraq, he said, must now cooperate with U.N. inspectors and dismantle its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons capabilities. Arab officials and commentators have said the resolution - revised to satisfy French and Russian concerns - has at least set back the chance of war. But some have expressed fear that Washington still could use the document as an excuse to attack Baghdad at the earliest opportunity. Beyond al-Sharaa's assurances, Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) was quoted Sunday by Russian news agencies as saying the resolution 'does not contain a mechanism for the use of force. ' Maher, the Egyptian foreign minister, said early Sunday that Iraqi acceptance would depend on guarantees that 'inspectors would act in a neutral... and objective way, respecting strictly all the resolutions of the Security Council particularly those with regard to the respect of Iraqi sovereignty.

' Iraq had accused inspectors who were in the country during 1991-1998 of acting as spies. The new resolution gives inspectors unrestricted access to any site, and that could remain a point of dispute. Iraq insists on respect for its sovereignty, an argument it has used in the past to restrict access to Saddam's palaces. subservient to foreign intelligence agencies,' Tishri n daily newspaper said in an editorial.