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Unhealthy precedent

Even as we write soldiers from the United States and its allies are forcing their way into Iraq in what is the new millennium's first big war. Ever since New York was attacked in September 2001, the US has shown increasing resolve to go after terror, and this incursion into Iraq is part of its overall policy of eliminating terrorism worldwide.

The US has every right to act in self-defence, and also to force what it considers a "rogue" nation to eliminate any weapons of mass destruction it may possess.

However it is a matter of serious concern that this massive military onslaught against Iraq, a sovereign state, has been taken without the full consent of the United Nations Security Council.

For many years the Security Council has accepted that Iraq has transgressed the norms by which a good international citizen is expected to behave.

Iraq was treated as a threat to international peace and security after it invaded its small and vulnerable neighbour Kuwait more than a decade ago. At that time there was automatic Security Council approval for an international coalition led by the US to push Iraq out of Kuwait by the use of military force.

From that time there was consensus among the nations in the Security Council that Iraq is suspected of having weapons of mass destruction, and has used various methods to remove them. These methods ranged from economic sanctions to the use of weapons inspectors.

There was even consensus that Iraq had not fully complied with the various Security Council resolutions. But when push came to shove, and the US and its allies wanted to force the issue, the members of the Security Council balked at allowing military action.

Whether they wanted more time for Iraq to comply, or whether they had changed their minds about the possibility of Iraq having these weapons, it isn't clear. Some of the critics of the countries, which were shy of endorsing military action, accused them of being fearful of attacks by extremist groups, such as Al-Quaeda, which are sure to use the situation to bolster their forces and build world opinion in their favour.

For whatever reason the result is clear, there is a so-called righteous war on, and the UN has not approved of it.

It is an unhealthy precedent that two of the world's greatest democracies are leading an incursion into another country without UN sanction. This belittles the UN, which was formed for the very purpose of avoiding international armed conflict by creating a forum at which injustices could be aired, problems discussed and solutions found through debate.

Ever since the Second World War the UN has succeeded in doing that and has grown into a noble institution, despite some countries quibbling about some of its work. It has been awarded the Nobel peace prize for its peacekeeping role and generally has been accepted as the body all countries turn to in times of trouble.

This particular war, we hope, will not diminish the UN. Every effort must be made by all the countries to ensure that the organisation is preserved and restored to its true purpose.

The international community must ensure that the UN is not only engaged in relief operations and aid but is also a forum that takes a stand on vital issues and acts on behalf of humankind for the betterment of the world.

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