GS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Extraordinary Rendition, Fear Mongering, Maher Arar
Document Summary
Gs101 - lecture 24 - human rights and the gwot. May 2003, the us and britain launched a preemptive strike against iraq. Resulted in the overthrow and eventual execution of saddam hussein, who had been dictator for 25 years. The move was very controversial, as iraq had not attacked anyone. The us initially sought un security council authorization, but withdrew its request. Many international law experts argued that the war was illegal and unjust. The us argued they didn"t require approval for 2 reasons: 1) the un"s authorization for the 2003 strike was already granted in the. Unsc resolution ending the 1991 persian gulf war. Us reserved right to resume hostilities if iraq failed to comply fully with terms of peace. 2) the us linked iraqi wmds and the september 11 attacks to preemptive self-defence, which would not require unsc authorization. 1) the us could find no weapons of mass destruction.
