18 Months Later, Annan Says Iraq Invasion “Illegal”

In an interview with the BBC World Service Wednesday, September 15, Annan, replying to a question on whether he believed Iraq war was illegal, said, “Yes, if you wish. I have indicated it was not in conformity with the UN Charter from our point of view, from the chapter point of view, it was illegal.”

Annan said the 15-member Security Council should have approved the invasion of the Arab country – which has the world’s second oil reserves.

“I hope we don’t see another Iraq-type operation for a long time … without UN approval and much broader support from the international community,” Annan added.

“Painful Lessons”

“Painful lessons” had been learnt since the invasion of Iraq, Annan said in the interview, carried by the BBC News Online.

“Lessons for the US, the UN and other member states. I think in the end everybody’s concluded it’s best to work together with our allies and through the UN,” he said.

He said he believed there should have been a second UN resolution following Iraq’s failure to comply over weapons inspections.

And it should have been up to the Security Council to approve or determine the consequences, he added.

On March 10, 2003 – ten days before the massive US-British invasion – Annan said in a news conference in The Hague that if a military action was taken without the Security Council blessing, “it would not be in conformity with the Charter.”

The United States and Britain withdrew a draft resolution in the council in mid-March after it was clear there were not enough votes to back it up.

France had threatened to veto if UN inspectors were not given more time to account for Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction, and two other veto-wielding resolution China and Russia showed reservations.

Washington, however, said it would invade Iraq for destroying its weapons of mass destruction – none of which have been found more than one year and a half after the invasion.

That has raised accusations to the US that the offensive on the oil-rich Iraq was based on false pretexts.

In an earlier interview published March 5, former Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said the Iraq invasion was illegal as the United States and Britain “hyped” intelligence to attack the oil-rich country.

“I don’t buy the argument the war was legalized by the Iraqi violation of earlier resolutions,” Blix said.

The head of the US team of 1,200 experts searching Iraq for WMD concluded that no such weapons have been found.

Furor

Annan belated statement has drawn anger among countries whose troops have joined the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

The British government said Thursday, September 16, the war in Iraq was “not only lawful but necessary”.

“We spelt out at the time our reasons for believing the conflict in Iraq was indeed lawful and why we believed it was necessary to uphold those UN resolutions,” Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said on BBC Radio.

Hewitt, whose government sent troops in support of the US-led invasion, conceded there was disagreement between international lawyers over the legality of the invasion.

Hewitt added she respected Annan’s views on the matter and regretted the fact that the government disagreed with him.

Blix had earlier accused the British government of “over-interpreting” intelligence on Iraq’s alleged capability of deploying weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes, lashing out at the "culture of spin and hyping" adopted by Downing Street.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard also rejected Annan’s remarks, saying the legal advice he was given was “entirely valid”.

In an oblique reference to last year’s protracted attempts to get the United Nations to endorse the invasion of Iraq, Howard said its decision making procedures were slow.

“The problem with the United Nations – it is a wonderful body in many respects and it does great humanitarian work – is that it can only proceed at the pace of the collective willingness of the permanent members,” Howard said.

The Japanese government said Annan’s comment was “unclear” as its foreign minister stuck to the line that the invasion was justified.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has been one of the most vocal supporters of the Iraq invasion led by US and British troops, despite widespread objections from the general public in Japan.

“It is still unclear how Mr. Annan expressed his view and from what standpoint in relation to United Nations Security Council resolutions and other matters,” Hosoda was said.

Iraq Elections

Annan also warned in the interview there could not be “credible elections if the security conditions continue as they are now”. The US is trying to lobby support for elections to be held as set for January 31.

The UN secretary general was speaking one day after his top envoy to Iraq, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, said the security situation will be the overriding factor in determining how many UN international staffers can return to Iraq.

Qazi spoke Tuesday at a Security Council meeting called to discuss Annan’s latest report on Iraq, which warned that violence could make it more difficult to create the conditions for successful elections.

US Ambassador John Danforth on September 14, urged nations to contribute troops and money to provide security so the United Nations can return to Iraq, especially to help with upcoming elections.

“Everybody who cares about Iraq believes the election should be held and the election should be held on schedule,” Danforth said.

“The UN’s presence is very important.”

There is now a ceiling of 35 UN staff in the country.

Observers believe that any delay of the Iraqi elections and continued violence in Iraq would cast a pall on Washington’s bids to legalize its military presence in the oil-rich country – so far deemed an occupation even by the UN– and draw more support from world countries.