Britain Defends Legality of Iraq Invasion

 

By Michael Drudge¹
 
Britain says it disagrees with the assessment² of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the invasion of Iraq was illegal. Fresh controversy³ has erupted over the legality of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year, following an interview Mr. Annan gave to British television.

Mr. Annan told a reporter he believes the U.N. Security Council should have passed a second resolution specifically approving the invasion, because an earlier resolution on weapons inspections⁴ had been too vague on that matter.

When pressed by the reporter, Mr. Annan said he agreed with the description of the invasion as "illegal."

"I am one of those who believe that there should have been a second resolution, because the Security Council indicated that if Iraq did not comply, there would be consequences, but then it was up to the Security Council to approve or determine what those consequences should be," he said.

"So you do not think there was legal authority for the war," asked the reporter.

"I have stated clearly that it was not in conformity⁵ with the U.N. Charter," the secretary-general replied. "It was illegal," asked the reporter.

"Yes, if you wish," Mr. Annan said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard rejected the allegations and criticized the United Nations as being, as he put it, "paralyzed" because important decisions can only be made by consensus⁶.

In London, the Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt told British radio the invasion was legal and necessary, and it is time to look forward to Iraq's future.

"I have enormous respect for Kofi Annan and of course I respect his views on this matter. I regret that we disagree with them. But the important thing, the crucial thing now is that we and the United Nations and the international community continue working with the Iraqi people so that they can achieve what they all want, which is a safe, secure, and democratic Iraq."

Britain's attorney general, Peter Goldsmith, issued an opinion shortly before the invasion that the war was legal under international law, and parliament then voted by a 3-1 margin⁷ to authorize⁸ the participation⁹ of British troops.

Michael Drudge, VOA news, London.
注释：
invasion 入侵
vague 不清楚的，茫然的
in conformity with 和……一致
allegation 主张
consensus 舆论
attorney 律师

1 drudge   

n.劳碌的人；v.做苦工，操劳

参考例句：

• I feel like a real drudge--I've done nothing but clean all day!我觉得自己像个做苦工的--整天都在做清洁工作！
• I'm a poor,miserable,forlorn drudge;I shall only drag you down with me.我是一个贫穷，倒运，走投无路的苦力，只会拖累你。

2 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 conformity   

n.一致，遵从，顺从

参考例句：

• Was his action in conformity with the law?他的行动是否合法？
• The plan was made in conformity with his views.计划仍按他的意见制定。

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

7 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

8 authorize   

v.授权，委任；批准，认可

参考例句：

• He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
• Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。

9 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。