IRELAND

IRELAND
The Irish Times, Nov. 9: Iraq stands accused of grave violations of international law following yesterday's unanimous adoption by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 1441 demanding that it disarm its weapons of mass destruction. Unanimous action by the council represents the highest form of legal sanction available in the international arena.
The resolution must therefore be taken with the utmost seriousness both by the Saddam Hussein regime and U.N. member-states. Unless it is adhered to, there is a grave risk of war in the Middle East, with potentially dangerous consequences for the region and the world economy.
The U.N. decision justifies the prolonged weeks of diplomacy necessary to reach this agreed outcome. The efforts of France, Britain, Russia, Ireland and other Security Council members have paid off in reaching a unanimity which affirms the U.N.'s central role in this crisis.
Clear mandate
The next stages will see the arms inspectors deployed with a very clear mandate to seek out and destroy such weapons. If the Iraqis fail to comply they face the probability of military action. The resolution provides for the Security Council to meet again to consider the situation if there is such a failure. It remains ambiguous whether military action by the U.S. or other powers could be vetoed at that stage and President Bush has made it clear he is willing to go it alone or with allies if necessary. All depends on whether and how the Iraqis cooperate. The U.N. mandate is for disarmament, not regime change. There is sufficient conviction among the majority of Security Council members about the dangers of war, and sufficient success in insisting on the need to avoid it, to allow room for hope that it can be avoided in coming months, despite much talk about its inevitability.
Ireland remains a member until the end of the year and has played an important role in insisting on maintaining the council's authority and legitimacy. That will need continuing vigilance.
FRANCE
Le Monde, Paris, Nov. 10: Washington and London speak of apocalypse: They claim Iraq -- a third-world country under a U.N. embargo for more than 10 years -- has (weapons) that could make part of the planet tremble, and is ready to let terrorist networks draw from its supplies.
A number of experts, among them the most neutral and most credible, are much more skeptical of the real danger posed by Iraqi stocks, and of the regime's willingness to hand them to Islamic terrorists.
Saddam Hussein could say yes (to the U.N. resolution) and stall for time.
Military operation
If he says yes, the Americans' intentions will be put to the test. The inspections will be daily opportunities for incidents -- and accordingly, pretexts for launching a military operation. The reality of America's objectives will be brought to light: Disarm Iraq, or topple Saddam Hussein? The specter of war haunts the Gulf more than ever.
ITALY
La Repubblica, Rome, Nov. 13: When the European Social Forum met in Florence last week it announced that by mid-February, protests will be held across Europe against war on Iraq.
But it would be more effective and more coherent to start acting now, otherwise the Left risks becoming bitterly divided on the issue of what needs to be done to avoid a conflict.
Tyrant
It is obvious that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is a tyrant, and it seems without a doubt that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.
But the United Nations-authorized embargo against Iraq is hateful and unjust. And continuing American claims that Iraq is stockpiling and developing weapons of mass destruction only serves to underscore the embargo's failure.
No to arms, yes to talks. A beautiful idea which must be pursued as far as possible.
Let's then leave aside our suspicion that the latest U.N. resolution is but a prelude to an inevitable war.
Bloody dictatorship
We have to support chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix. We have to denounce Saddam's bloody dictatorship.
And we have to do it now if we still want to have a significant say on what will happen from now until February.