THE WAR ON IRAQ: THE MONTH LEADING UP
By Latoiya Stout

Last month, the United States, Britain, and Spain introduced their resolution expecting to win U.N. support to defuse Iraq by taking military action. The resolution would have permitted war against Iraq anytime after Monday if Iraq did not disarm by that time. However, after several weeks of diplomacy from the Bush administration, they were unsuccessful in convincing the majority of the council's 15 members that now was the time for war.

On Monday, March 17 the U.S. and its allies ended diplomatic efforts to win U.N. approval for an ultimatum to Iraq. A threatened French veto was to blame for their decision. The way then became clear to open a war on Iraq at any given time without Security Council authority.

Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Britain's U.N. Ambassador stated that the French had made it perfectly clear that any resolution authorizing military action against Iraq would be vetoed. However, French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere denied responsibility for the impasses. He stated that it was apparent Washington could not get a majority of nine votes on the Security Council. "The majority of the council is again opposed to a resolution authorizing the use of force, " he said.

As diplomatic efforts failed, the U.S. advised U.N. weapon inspectors and other foreigners to vacate Baghdad in order to escape massive destruction. Warfare could have began within hours of the U.N. inspectors leaving Iraq. President Bush addressed the nation Monday night to explicate his thoughts on why war would be necessary if Saddam Hussein did not leave Iraq immediately. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer stated that, "The United Nations has failed to enforce its own demands that Iraq immediately disarm. As a result, the diplomatic window has been closed."

The early morning hours of Thursday, March 20th brought the first wave of Coalition forces' attacks on Iraq, including a so-called "decapitation attack" aimed directly at Saddam and the Iraqi leadership in Baghdad.

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