Powell calls Annan on Iraq comments, says war was legal

[Barrett808]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he had called UN chief Kofi Annan to express concern over comments that the US-led war in Iraq was illegal and urge that divisive debate on the matter not be rekindled.

Powell repeated Washington's position that Annan's opinion on the legality of the conflict -- as well as that of France, which vehemently opposed the invasion -- was "incorrect."

"I spoke with the secretary general and we know that we have different views on this, but our view is clear and our view is based on international law," Powell said in an interview with conservative talk-show host Sean Hannity.

"The secretary general was incorrect," he said, referring to Annan's widely publicized remarks to the BBC on Wednesday that the war against Iraq was illegal because the United States and its allies had not sought a UN Security Council resolution to specifically authorize it.

"I've indicated that it was not in conformity with the UN charter from our point of view, and from the charter point of view it was illegal," Annan said in the BBC interview.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040917/pl_afp/us_un_iraq_annan_france

On edit: added link.

[wtmusic]

1. Read Article 51, Colin

you fucking harebrained idiot. You have *nothing* to stand on.

:grr:

[Roland99]

8. BWA HA HA HA HA HA!!!

Love your pic sig!!

[54anickel]

2. Link?

[NNN0LHI]

9. link

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040917/pl_afp/us_un_iraq_annan_france&cid=1521&ncid=1480

[NNN0LHI]

3. The Bush boys seem awfully worried about this little "illegal" thingy

Nightmares of war crimes trial coming soon maybe? Get the popcorn.

Don

[Karenina]

22. Language matters.

It is NOT a "war," it's an ILLEGAL INVASION based upon flimsy evidence.

[clydefrand]

4. Where is the link to this, please. Thanks

[pinniped]

5. Fuck you Colon Bowel.

------urge that divisive debate on the matter not be rekindled.------

Ya let's not talk about it and it will go away.

Damm POS war criminals can burn in hell.

[Eloriel]

6. our view is based on international law As WE interpret it

which, as you know, Kofi, is a view that the U.S. can do no wrong. Oh, and btw, we've reinterpreted the Geneva Conventions as well. Don't bother yourself about this, we'll do as we please and you can't stop us.

[Kitsune]

7. Translation: <Colin> wtf stfu lozl

Am I the only one who feels like our country is being run by script kiddies?

[WinterStorm]

10. Oh course he is against Annan

Powell should be sitting in the pen right now along with his buddies Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz and all of the Rethugs that went along with the BS.

[PurityOfEssence]

11. the "Because I Say So" administration strikes again

Who was that masked man?

[nyhuskyfan]

12. Powell has no cred with the U.N. any more

After he sat in front of them and lied through his teeth. His reputation went through the sewer in one speech.

I hope it was worth it, Colin. A lifetime of service to this nation chucked away to be a towel boy for a bunch of thugs.

[bemildred]

13. Annan says Powell represents "Old America" and is "irrelevant". nt

[54anickel]

14. Weird, this story states Annan was sort of badgered into using the term

http://allafrica.com/stories/200409170817.html

snip>

Those of us who saw the interview in which Mr. Annan used the word - which in our opinion is a perfectly legitimate word - were almost embarrassed with the way the BBC reporter was eager to get the word out of Mr. Annan's mouth. With a smile, Mr. Annan agreed to the prodding of the reporter and said yes.

Immediately, the same BBC and other Western media picked this word up and started directing all manner of aspersions and insinuations against the Secretary General. Indeed, one impertinent news reader on BBC World television even had the effrontery of describing it as "diplomatic suicide".

Come on, let us get serious.

The invasion of Iraq last year was one of the most unpopular acts of war in modern history. A good 80% or so of the countries of the world did not approve of it.

more...

[LynnTheDem]

15. Powell's as big a lying bastard

as the rest of the bushCartel.

[The Magistrate]

16. Powell Is Wrong

There is an arguement that could be pressed for the legality of the attack on Iraq, based on previous U.N. resolutions, but the argument that it was not specifically authorized by the U.N. is a stronger argument. Sec. Gen. Annan is much better positioned than Powell to give an honest opinion in the matter.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Colin Casus Belli were them cute WMDs

where are teh WMDS? Now somebody care to explain to Colin
how this is related to war and ilegal?

[MasonJar]

18. Powell may as well have kept quiet; he has no credibility any-

more. Is it Michael's job or is he just scum?

[Barkley]

19. Callin' Powell a Liar

Annan is correct "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was illegal.

If the U.S. was so sure that invading Iraq was right why didn't Bush and Blair take it to the UN Security Council for a specific resolution authorizing the use of force?

They knew it wouldn't pass and the US-UK would lose because the evidence that Iraq had WMD was non-existent.

Time has proven Annan/UN/France corrent and Powell/US/Bush/Blair wrong.

[Barkley]

20. Kofi is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate!

http://almaz.com/nobel/peace/2001b.html

I hope when Powell talked to Annan he learned something.

[Fleshdancer]

21. So if I *assume* my neighbor is threatening me, I can legally kill him?

good to know Colin. I'll keep that in mind. :eyes: