Straw just set a Friday deadline — the date of the next report — for UNSC action. “The decisions we take must have force beyond mere words.”
And now, a short history lesson on the failure of the UN’s predecessor, the League of Nations. A clear warning to the UN, and one no diplomat getting paid on a lot of US dimes, can completely ignore.
In short, Straw is making the liberal case for war, and bless him for it.
As I thought, Straw didn’t put forth any motion to vote on force authorization today. But his words were quite clear nonetheless: The Saddam has until Friday to comply completely, and the UN has some short time after Friday to either act or suffer the fate of the League.
