Total capitulation by the UN Security Council
WHITHER THE WEASELS?
May 24, 2003 -- The United Nations Security Council Thursday voted 14-0 to remove economic sanctions on Iraq, first imposed 13 years ago when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait - an action that precipitated the first Gulf War.
Threatened obstructionism by France, Russia, Germany and China - all of whom opposed Operation Iraqi Freedom - never materialized.
Thus are the United States and Great Britain pretty much free to put Iraq back together - and to tap Iraqi oil sales for the necessary cash.
The language of the resolution allows for limited U.N. involvement in humanitarian assistance and leaves a window for the possible return of some weapons inspectors.
This is a remarkable diplomatic victory for the United States.
And while nobody's crowing too loudly, it was a well-earned rebuke to the Axis of Weasel - France and Germany.
Whether or not they learned a little humility from the experience will become more clear in 10 days at the G-8 annual summit - the first time the world's leading economic powers will have gathered since the war.
It's likely they didn't, however.
There are already reports that summit host French President Jacques Chirac plans to "embarrass" President Bush by pushing an agenda of environmental, development and economic issues and glossing over security and war concerns.
Fine.
Well, Secretary of State Colin Powell got a head start on Chirac Thursday by announcing - just prior to his own meeting with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin - that U.S. military ties with France would be curtailed, given that the nature of the relationship between the two nations has changed.
As such, France will be left out of an annual military exercise in Nevada, the United States will have a limited presence at next month's Paris Air Show and military-to-military exchange programs will be cut back.
Also, fine.
There is no point in training with demonstrably unreliable "allies."
Meanwhile, Iraq remains uppermost in people's minds - but there are a number of issues separating America and "Old Europe."
President Bush raised one at his speech at the Coast Guard graduation Wednesday. Noting U.S. work to end world hunger, he charged that "our partners in Europe are impeding this effort," through opposition based on "unfounded, unscientific fears" about genetically modified foods.
How ironic: The United States gets the rap as being the world "bad guy," but it is, in fact, the European community helping block distribution of resources to starving areas.
Clearly, it's a whole new world - not just in terms of security.
Europe is going to have to determine what role it wants to play.
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