U.S. Officials Fashion Legal Basis To Keep Force in Iraq

[Dover]

THE OCCUPATION
U.S. Officials Fashion Legal Basis to Keep Force in Iraq
By JOHN F. BURNS and THOM SHANKER

Published: March 26, 2004

BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 25 — With fewer than 100 days to go before Iraq resumes its sovereignty, American officials say they believe they have found a legal basis for American troops to continue their military control over the security situation in Iraq.

After months of concern about the legal status of the 110,000 American troops who are expected to remain here after the occupation formally ends on June 30, the officials say they believe an existing United Nations resolution approving the presence of a multinational force in Iraq, approved by the Security Council in October, gives American commanders the authority needed to maintain control after sovereignty is handed back.

Showing his confidence that the approach was grounded in international law, L. Paul Bremer III, the chief of the occupation authority, issued an executive order this week specifying that the newly formed Iraqi armed forces be placed under the operational control of the American commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, who has been named to lead American and allied forces after the transfer of political authority to the Iraqis.

Mr. Bremer and other top American officials say they believe Security Council Resolution 1511, which conferred the mandate for the American-led alliance, can be used to provide legal justification for the American military command to operate until Dec. 31, 2005. That is when a timetable agreed on by Iraqi leaders envisages the final transition to an elected Iraqi government.

The plan, the American officials say, will require the Security Council to review the resolution before it expires in October. But the United States may also seek a new resolution, hoping to placate Spain's new prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who has said that he will withdraw Spain's contingent unless the force is placed under clear United Nations control...cont'd >

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/26/international/middleeast/26IRAQ.html

[Barrett808]

1. Nice and legal, yessirree.

[chenGOD]

2. Looks like they're giving up on the pretense

that Iraq will be governed by Iraqis. Didn't think they'd be so blatant about it though.

[BeHereNow]

3. But of course...

Anyone who is still thinking we are not going
to see a draft is in serious denial.
The unmitigated, obstreperous actions of the
neocon-zionist-right wing-zealot x-tian corporatists
are action of individuals who have NO intentions
of going backwards, oh no, quite the opposite.
They are just getting started.
And they will only become more, not less brazen.
Mark these words-
YOU AINT SEEN NOTHIN' YET.
And ask yourself this,
"Despite ALL the scandals that have come to light,
WHO has been able to stop them thus far?"

BHN

[blue agave]

4. But ... I thought the UN was "IRRELEVANT"

.