Reply #72: Simple - he had to head off any attempt to pass a resolution... [View All]

[Devils Advocate NZ]

forbidding the invasion.

If you read the Congressional resolution you will see that one of the only requirements placed on Bush was that ALL UNSC resolutions regarding Iraq be enforced. If a resolution had been passed forbidding the invasion of Iraq - as anti-war protesters were campaigning for, and as nations such as Germany and France seemed inclined to push in the UNSC, then Bush could NOT have legally invaded Iraq because by doing so he would be in breach of a UNSC resolution regarding Iraq.

He had to head off that possibility by going to the UN, but he never intended to abide by it's decision. He only intended to leave the UN stuck with having not authorised or forbid an invasion - which is what happened. The invasion itself came too quick after the failure of Powell's trip to the UN for an opposite resolution to be made - which was ONLY possible because he had already been given authorisation to invade by congress.

It was clear that the UN itself condemned the invasion, it just hadn't had time to put that condemnation in writing, and it was too late once the war began.