Should the UN route have been abandoned?

Should the UN route have been abandoned?

The United States, Britain and Spain withdrew plans for a new UN Security Council resolution and President Bush gave Saddam Hussein 48 hours to go into exile.

More than 250,000 US troops are now stationed close to Iraq's borders awaiting orders, along with UK and Australian troops.

Should the resolution have been abandoned? Has diplomacy now taken a back seat to military action? What is your reaction to the ever increasing threat of war?

Thank you for your e-mails. This debate is now closed. A selection of your comments is published below.

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Your comments

The whole world will pay a big price for what Bush has done

David Kinyanjui, Uganda

Soon the war will be over, the terrorists will be driven underground and the whole world will pay a big price for what Bush has done. It is now clear that the US was determined to go to war even if Saddam had heeded Bush's ultimatum.
David Kinyanjui, Uganda

The UN has had 12 years to resolve this and disarm Iraq and has failed to do so. Why should we stand back and allow ourselves, the oppressed people of Iraq and neighbouring countries to live under threat? It is about time we took the bull by the horns and deal with this man and his regime and at least give the people of Iraq the choice of who leads their country back to economic and political stability.
Sarah Lightfoot, UK

Yes, action should have been taken a long time ago. The UN has become a spineless entity. You can issue warnings for just so long, thereafter, if nothing is resolved the only alternative is action.
Glenda Hammond, South Africa

May God bless the people of Iraq

Alex Scoggins, New Zealand

Sometimes a war can save lives and keep the world safe for the future, Act now before it's too late, and try to do your best to spare the innocent people. May God bless the people of Iraq.
Alex Scoggins, New Zealand

The UN never passed a resolution calling for regime change. Is Bush not in breach of international law? It is a pity that the UK, my country, is represented by politicians who seem to have contempt for the views of its people
Gerrard Sables, Poland

Mr Hussain should be disarmed but war is not the solution. Mr Bush should have followed the UN resolution.
Narhari Ghimire, Nepal

Perhaps some are too comfortable in their freedoms

Clint, USA

To wait for complete consensus among the Security Council Members would be to assume every member country understands the gift their freedom represents. Perhaps some are too comfortable in their freedoms, and have never been forced to pay the price for them. It is often the minority who must take a stand to make the world a better place. And only the minority in this case has the courage to pay the heavy price required.
Clint, USA

The UN should have been allowed to continue with its course of action against Saddam and his weapons. Bush is approaching the same dictatorial limits he criticizes in others. Who does he think he is - defying and dictating to the UN and the rest of the world? He is doing more harm to the UN and its authority than anyone else. As for recent comments about terrorist attacks on the US - if war does occur, these attacks would be legitimate. After all, he would have started it. They could no longer be called terrorism, they would be acts of sabotage and perfectly acceptable in time of war. You can't have it both ways.
Rick, Netherlands (ex South Africa)

After almost 13 years, I feel the deadline is long overdue. Difficult times and new world situations make for difficult decisions. Prime Minister Blair and President Bush have made the right one. Thanks God they possess the moral courage to do so.
Randal Wirth, USA

I know first hand as to how one must live their life under that horrible dictator.

Amelmarduk Galeb , Iraq

Being from Iraq, I know first hand as to how one must live their life under that horrible dictator. America is right, Saddam Hussein cannot remain in power, for the sake of his own people and the world's people. In this case the end result does justify the means by how one gets there. I love my country, but I refuse to love the man who rules it.
Amelmarduk Galeb , Iraq

People are saying that the US decision to invade Iraq without the Security Council approval will seriously undermine the credibility of the UN. I think the UN lost all its credibility and teeth years ago when it failed the victims in the Balkans and Rwanda.
Robin Sanders, Canada (British Expat)

We've tried diplomacy for twelve years, give WAR a chance, after all it worked last time. Do the Iraqi people deserve freedom any less than the people in the US, France, England, Germany?
Jerry Hayward, USA

If Bush offered the same ultimatum to other leaders, like Sharon, I would back him

Diane, Belgium

If Bush offered the same ultimatum to other leaders, like Sharon, who also killed thousand of innocent civilians, I would back him. But when Sharon kills innocent people, the U.S. just asks him to show some 'respect'.
Diane, Belgium

Who is Mr. Bush to say who is who in the world? He is carrying out injustice for the sake of US self-interest.
Federico G., Argentina

While I agree that Saddam needs to be removed, we all know the real reasons for this move by the US. If Iraq had nothing of value, the US would ignore them just like they are currently ignoring the more serious threat from North Korea. It's a smokescreen to grab oil, and nothing more.
Michael Soulier, Canada

I very much support our President and our Troops. Saddam needs to be stopped. GOD Bless Our President and Our Troops.
Michele Borovich, USA

I support the notion that Saddam should not be in power 100%, but how can we justify a war that's purpose is to bring democracy to a nation when to reach those means, we are ignoring, and defying the democratic process in which we so "believe in".
Heather, USA

There is no credible evidence that showing that Iraq poses a threat to the USA

Bruce Campbell, Canada

A strong viable United Nations does not fit in with Mr Bush's Imperial plans for USA. There is no credible evidence that showing that Iraq poses a threat to the USA. This war is about George Bush's imperial dreams and political aspirations.
Bruce Campbell, Canada

I don't think we should go to war, I believe there is a peaceful alternative and that war isn't the answer. Thousands of innocent people will die; no good can come of this.
Georgina Doherty, Wales, Great Britain

Yes, Saddam is evil. He must go! But then what would George Bush say to Israel and Palestine. "Stop killing each other, otherwise America will make you stop" and how would they do that? Start a war on them, "in order to free the people" where will this stop. Libya is also an "axis of evil" what's America planning to do there?
Rob, Belgium

I strongly back Bush's deadline

Gabriela, United States

I strongly back Bush's deadline and support whatever he wants to do for the sake of not only Iraqi people but also for all people in the Middle East.
Gabriela, United States

I don't think war is the solution to this problem. If there is a war, it should be lead by UN not US
Rajan Thapa, Nepal

Some of the readers here seem to be happy that the period of uncertainty is coming to an end. They seem to have no thoughts at all for the long period of uncertainty that is going to follow soon for the Iraqi people and the Arabs in general.
Abraham K, Canada

Humanity needs universally available clean running water - not more bloodshed. May God be on the side of the weak and the helpless.
Amadou Bahoum, The Gambia

To all those who disagree with this forthcoming war I would say this: You would wish that you gave some more thought to this problem if Saddam dropped a nuclear bomb on London in a few years time - that is quite likely if he's not stopped now.
Anon., England

I secretly learnt Karate in School because I wanted to surprise or disgrace any bully that came my way. I hope there is no similarity in this to the war. Else another lesson to be learnt!
Dami Bamiro, Nigeria

The German Chancellor's comment is: "My question was and is: does the degree of threat stemming from the Iraqi dictator justify a war that will bring certain death to thousands of innocent men, women and children? My answer was and is 'No'." I think the posthumous answer from those hundreds of thousands of Iraqi, Iranian, Kuwaiti and Kurdish families already eradicated by his regime in the last 2 decades would be : "Yes"
Reinhard Hedley, Germany

I think this sets a dangerous precedent

Karl Turner, USA

No, I don't back President Bush's war deadline. I think this sets a dangerous precedent. The inspections process should be allowed to run its course before any talk of war is taken up.
Karl Turner, USA

The only way for peace is to rid the tyrant from the world. President Bush is right.
Chris Sharpe, England

One would think that the UN would be involved until the very end, yet when an obstacle in the path to war is found Bush simply says "who's with me" and off we go, without the UN, without any rationality. I read that if the US is victorious in Iraq Bush's chances of re-election are greater, I strongly disagree with this idea. Bush describes Saddam as a "tyrant", this may be true, but what does this situation say about Bush?
Anon., USA

Bravo President Bush for having the moral guts to take a moral stand on an issue and have the willingness to defend what America truly stands for - human liberty.
Prasad Mahendra, USA

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