Reply #84: unfortunately, that's not really possible [View All]

[bluestatepatriot]

There really isn't any way to say whether it was legal or not. like many laws, it depends on interpretation. The security council resolution, I believe 1441, allowed for action if Iraq was not in compliance. It wasn't completely in compliance, but there is some debate over whther it was in compliance enough. But that isn't even the legal debate, the legal debate was, was the resolution automatically enforcing, or was another resolution needed. We said it was automatic, other countries, mainly France, said another resolution was needed. We WERE going to put forward another resolution, but that would not have passed-so we pulled it, and went in under the automatically-enforcing argument. Since the orginal resolution didn't specify either way, it was a matter of one country's word against others. Leaving moral, rational, political arguments all aside, legally speaking, it was pretty much up for grabs.