The Second UN Resolution: A Battle for Public Opinion

A number of recent developments have heightened the tension surrounding the situation in Iraq, including a new resolution from the United States and Britain that would declare Iraq in breach of UN rules on weapons of mass destruction. The two countries have an uphill battle at the UN Security Council, where Russia, France, and Germany all favor continuing inspections.

The Turkish Parliament’s decision to allow U.S. troops to operate from Turkish soil strengthens America’s military hand, but Turkish intentions toward northern Iraq remain uncertain, and Washington must pay careful attention to tensions between the Turks and the Iraqi Kurds. Meanwhile, the administration’s efforts to win over public opinion (both domestic and international) and secure passage of a new Security Council Resolution may hinge on whether Saddam Hussein destroys the country’s Al-Samoud 2 missiles, as ordered last Friday by Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix.

A panel of Brookings experts will discuss these developments and how they could play out in the coming weeks, as well as assess the situation’s potential impact on U.S. domestic politics.