The Illegal War as Reckless Gamble

Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the UN, told the BBC today:

When pressed on whether he viewed the invasion of Iraq as illegal, he said: "Yes, if you wish. I have indicated it was not in conformity with the UN charter from our point of view, from the charter point of view, it was illegal."

It is interesting that Annan is saying this now, with the latest UN session about to begin -- and George W. Bush slated to speak in the next week or so.

Plus, Bush, Australia's John Howard, and Britain's Tony Blair all face elections in the near future.

It was three years ago this week that Bush spoke to the UN about Iraq. His speech was filled with one distortion after another. Remember this "highlight"?

In 1991, the Iraqi regime agreed to destroy and stop developing all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles, and to prove to the world it has done so by complying with rigorous inspections. Iraq has broken every aspect of this fundamental pledge.

Here are a few more of Bush's claims:

Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons.

Saddam Hussein's regime is a grave and gathering danger. To suggest otherwise is to hope against the evidence. To assume this regime's good faith is to bet the lives of millions and the peace of the world in a reckless gamble.

Saddam Hussein has defied all these efforts and continues to develop weapons of mass destruction. The first time we may be completely certain he has a -- nuclear weapons is when, God forbids, he uses one.

Free societies do not intimidate through cruelty and conquest, and open societies do not threaten the world with mass murder.

And some say George W. Bush isn't smart. It is quite clear that he long ago mastered the double entendre.