Language in UN Resolution on Iraq Critical in Legitimizing a Future U.S. War

Interview with Phyllis Bennis,with the Institute for Policy Studies conducted by Scott Harris

Since the Bush administration began beating the drums of war against Iraq this past summer, the United Nations has been placed at the center of debate on the question of renewed weapons inspections and the legitimacy of any future U.S. attack. France, Russia and China -- three of the five permanent members of the Security Council, each with veto power -- have objected to the White House demand for a single resolution mandating a tough new round of weapons inspections, which if impeded by Baghdad, would automatically authorize a U.S. invasion. Instead, France, Russia and China have advocated a set of two resolutions: one laying out conditions for weapons inspections and a second resolution, when and if Saddam Hussein's government fails to comply.

But over the past seven weeks, Secretary of State Colin Powell has worked behind the scenes applying heavy pressure to U.S. allies on the Security Council to accede to Washington's plan. As a result, a compromise resolution may soon be approved by the Council that could adopt ambiguous language that would satisfy both President Bush's pursuit of war making authority and those that oppose it.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, who examines the high stakes negotiations at the U.N. and continuing international opposition to a U.S.-led war against Iraq.

Contact the Institute for Policy Studies by calling (202) 234-9382 or visit their Web site at www.ips-dc.org.

*

LISTEN to this week's half-hour program of Between The Lines by clicking on one of the links below:

http://www.btlonline.org

*

For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which

features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines,

send an email to btlsummary-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

*

For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a

RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured

on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

*

"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be

heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays

at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising

months of April and October)

*

betweenthelines@snet.net

*

©2002 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.

**