LAO, Lorraine Jewell C.

POS 2210 TTH 10:30 – 12:00 PM

Demarcation of the Council’s Role:

A Criticism on Michael J. Glennon’s Why the Security Council Failed

Delving into the article of Michael Glennon, comprehending that the UN Security Council has failed is
an overly unremarkable description for the conflict mainly between the U.S and Iraq. Here’s why: we may be in
an era where threats on international peace and security call for the urgency of military action, but military
action should be seen as the last option, when situation can be dealt with diplomatic solutions.
In the case of US and Iraq, President Bush shouldn’t have used the idea of engaging the invasion of war
without the permission of the UN Security Council. According to the UN Council (2009), the UN Security
Council is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security; wherein all UN members agree
to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council and the Council alone has the power to take
decisions that member states are obligated to implement.
The eighteenth resolution proposed by US, Britain and Spain was illegal and unnecessary from the eyes
of the other member states that have vetoed the resolution and from the point of view of the UN charter as well.
The UN Council had unanimously passed Resolution 1441, that called for the immediate, total unilateral
disarmament of Iraq. Despite the presented resolution and the failure to provide evidences that Iraq was
allegedly claimed to possess weapons of mass destruction, The United States riveted on the allegation that Iraq
failed to adhere on Resolution 1441.
Colin Powell, the Former United States National Security Advisor, stated in his speech on February
2003, that “after the US invaded Iraq and caused the downfall of Saddam Hussein, no weapons of mass
destruction were found.” At the very time that Powell made the speech, George W. Bush had made the decision
to carry on with military action. The invasion of United States to Iraq, complicated the situation that should’ve
been resolved by diplomatic resolutions.
The invasion proved that enforcing military action is the wrong approach and that the United States
albeit the majority disapproval of the member states and the UN Security Council, still carried the urge and
proceeded with military invasion. Was the conflict between Iraq and United States the one to lead the
conclusion of the Security Council’s failure? Or was it the hegemonic and reckless decision of the United States
that provided the façade of failure to the UN Security Council?

References:
Glennon, M. (2002). Why the Security Council Failed". Mingst, K and Snyder, J. (Eds.) Essential Readings in
World Politics: 2nd edition (pp. 208 - 218). New York & London. W. W. Norton 8c Company, Inc.

Luck, E., et al, (2002). “Responses. Mingst, K and Snyder, J. (Eds.) Essential Readings in World Politics: 2nd
edition (pp. 219 - 222). New York & London. W. W. Norton 8c Company, Inc.

United Nations Security Council |. (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 2020, from https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/