Chirac: Unilateral action illegal
"French President Jacques Chirac said that any unilateral action against Iraq would break international law. He said it was up to the UN Security Council to decide on the inspectors' progress report, due to be presented on January 27. But US Secretary of State Colin Powell told a German daily... many countries believed a new UN resolution was needed to justify a war against Iraq, he said. "But we have always made clear that the US will act without a second resolution"

Given that war is a crime, the worst of crimes, it has to be wondered whether in the event of an illegal war PM Howard and Defence Minister Hill would be vulnerable for warcrimes prosecution. Meantime, Iraqi President Saddam has promised to rout any US invasion at the gates of Baghdad, an improbable scenario, it seems to me.

Chirac: Unilateral action illegal
"French President Jacques Chirac said that any unilateral action against Iraq would break international law. He said it was up to the UN Security Council to decide on the inspectors' progress report, due to be presented on January 27. But US Secretary of State Colin Powell told a German daily... many countries believed a new UN resolution was needed to justify a war against Iraq, he said. "But we have always made clear that the US will act without a second resolution"

Given that war is a crime, the worst of crimes, it has to be wondered whether in the event of an illegal war PM Howard and Defence Minister Hill would be vulnerable for warcrimes prosecution. Meantime, Iraqi President Saddam has promised to rout any US invasion at the gates of Baghdad, an improbable scenario, it seems to me.