Deserters, Iraq and the UN: The hippie asshat should do some research

Further to Babbling's post, a letter of mine in the Toronto Star:

Iraq action U.N.-sactioned

Jul 12, 2008 04:30 AM

Re: Why U.S. war resisters deserve refuge in Canada

Opinion, July 11

Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae claims that a member of the U.S. armed forces ordered to Iraq "... realizes that what he's being asked to do is in no way authorized by international law."

Not so. The United States and coalition military presence – and use of force – in Iraq have in fact been fully authorized by the United Nations Security Council since it adopted resolution 1511 on Oct. 16, 2003.

That resolution "authorizes a multinational force under unified command to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq."

Most recently, on Dec. 18, 2007, the Security Council extended the mandate of those foreign forces – for the last time – until Dec. 31, 2008. After that their presence will need to be on the basis of agreement with the government of Iraq.

So, contrary to Rae, since October 2003 any U.S. deserters concerned about Iraq are in fact refusing to participate in a UN-sanctioned war.

Mark Collins, Ottawa

Here are the references sent with the letter:

Resolution 1511 October 16, 2003

SECURITY COUNCIL, ACTING ON IRAQ’S REQUEST, EXTENDS ‘FOR LAST TIME’ MANDATE OF MULTINATIONAL FORCE