Wednesday, 03/12/03

The Bushies have been pounding the pavement for votes in the Security Council's next Iraq resolution, even though France and maybe Russia have both already promised to veto it. Our fearless leaders have been looking to land in a situation where they can say they had UN approval for their private little war, "you know, except for France". Once that's understood, the GOP breast-beating over France's "betrayal" makes sense as more than idle jingoism.

This is, of course, the same administration that refused to entertain the impertinent notion that its legitimacy might be less than authoritative after failing to win a popular election by 500,000 votes. Playing the role of the electoral college in the current drama, here's the UN Charter. Where's Ari Fleischer and his grating rhetoric about the rule of law when we need it?

Trying to game the UN vote is about as legitimate as Al Gore's unpacking in the White House would have been two years ago. The administration's gyrations are in service of a military action that, from the standpoint of the UN Charter, materially resembles the Iraqi action in 1990 -- you know, the one Bush's daddy went to war to stop. And, glory be, the old man is being consistent. 11:21AM «

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