http://smh.com.au/text/articles/2002/07/18/1026898886524.htm
Make peace, not war - and that means the US, too
Letters to the Editor
Sydney Morning Herald (Au), July 19, 2002
A recent threat by the United States Government (supported by the Australian and British governments) to attack Iraq and depose its president raises an important question: is such a threat permissible under international law?
Given that the United Nations Charter is the basis of modern international law, it seems to me that the answer is no, as the threat is clearly in breach of article 2 of the charter.
In this article, principle 3 makes the general point that "all members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means". Principle 4 is quite specific in requiring that "all members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state".
I strongly believe, therefore, that if the US Government is to comply with its public commitments to international law, it will at least have to obtain an "authorising resolution" from the UN Security Council before it again threatens to use, or uses, military force against Iraq - or against any other member state of the UN, for that matter.
Bill Owen, Wamboin, July 17.
Surely we should now stop using the pejoratives "prime minister" and "foreign minister" when referring to John Howard and Alexander Downer. Can't we use the more descriptive "White House spokesman"?
David Logan, Hallett Cove (SA), July 18.
I strongly object to being called a "fool" by Mr Downer (Herald, July 13).
Since when is it a fool who objects to playing "follow the leader" to a nation (the US) that has started every major war since World War II?
Each of these wars has been fought because the US objected to another country's right to form a government of its choosing. (May I cite Korea, Vietnam, Cuba and Iraq, to name but a few.)
I still believe that Australia stands for "freedom of choice" (as well as do the right thing and give 'em a fair go).
Dr William J. Conway, Bondi, July 16.
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