Give his speechwriter a raise...
I didn't see Bush's
speech to the UN, so I can't comment on delivery. But in terms of content...it was a
brilliant flanking maneuver. Bush could have said, in essence: "Screw impotent multilateralism. We're right and you're wrong." That's the sentiment of
many in the blogosphere (including myself), but it would have been tactically unsound. We would have raised the hackles of every delegate and cemented the image of the US as a berserk cowboy nation.
Instead he hoisted the
Tranzis on their own petard. By appealing to their love for international law, he pointed out that
the UN itself would be discredited if Iraq was given a pass.
In 1991, Iraq promised U.N. inspectors immediate and unrestricted access to verify Iraq's commitment to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles. Iraq broke this promise, spending seven years deceiving, evading and harassing U.N. inspectors before ceasing cooperation entirely. Just months after the 1991 cease-fire, the Security Council twice renewed its demand that the Iraqi regime cooperate fully with inspectors, ''condemning'' Iraq's ''serious violations'' of its obligations. The Security Council again renewed that demand in 1994 and twice more in 1996, ''deploring'' Iraq's ''clear violations'' of its obligations. The Security Council renewed its demand three more times in 1997, citing ''flagrant violations'' and three more times in 1998, calling Iraq's behavior ''totally unacceptable.'' And in 1999, the demand was renewed yet again.
Bush had to make one sacrifice, but I doubt it will be a major one. He had to give Hussein one last chance:
My nation will work with the U.N. Security Council on a new resolution to meet our common challenge. If Iraq's regime defies us again, the world must move deliberately and decisively to hold Iraq to account. The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced -- the just demands of peace and security will be met -- or action will be unavoidable. And a regime that has lost its legitimacy will also lose its power.
I have no doubt that Hussein will squander his last chance...after which we shall cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war...