Here’s something I created long ago to use in response to the constant claims that Operation Iraqi Freedom was an “illegal war:”

Here are the UN Security Council resolutions and US Public Laws leading up to Operation Iraqi Freedom:

– UN Security Council Resolution 660 (2 August 1990 – Demands that Iraq withdraw immediately and unconditionally all its forces to the positions in which they were located on 1 August 1990)
– UN Security Council Resolution 661 (6 August 1990 – Decides to restore the authority of the legitimate Government of Kuwait, and decides that all States shall prevent the import into their territories of all commodities and products originating in Iraq or Kuwait)
– UN Security Council Resolution 662 (9 August 1990 – Decides that annexation of Kuwait by Iraq under any form and whatever pretext has no legal validity, and demands that Iraq rescind its actions purporting to annex Kuwait)
– UN Security Council Resolution 664 (18 August 1990 – Demands that Iraq permit and facilitate the immediate departure from Kuwait and Iraq of the nationals of third countries and grant immediate and continuing access of consular officials to such nationals)
– UN Security Council Resolution 665 (25 August 1990 – Calls upon those Member States which are deploying maritime forces to the area to use such measures commensurate to the specific circumstances as may be necessary under the authority of the Security Council to halt all inward and outward maritime shipping)
– UN Security Council Resolution 666 (13 September 1990 – Requests the Secretary-General to use his good offices to facilitate the delivery and distribution of foodstuffs to Kuwait and Iraq in order to relieve human suffering)
– UN Security Council Resolution 667 (16 September 1990 – Strongly condemns aggressive acts perpetrated by Iraq against diplomatic premises and personnel in Kuwait, including the abduction of foreign nationals, and demands that Iraq immediately protect the safety and well-being of diplomatic and consular personnel and premises in Kuwait and in Iraq)
– UN Security Council Resolution 669 (24 September 1990 – Entrusts the Committee established under resolution 661 (1990) concerning the situation between Iraq and Kuwait with the task of examining requests for assistance under the provisions of Article 50 of the Charter of the United Nations and making recommendations to the President of the Security Council for appropriate action)
– UN Security Council Resolution 670 (25 September 1990 – Decides that all States shall deny permission to any aircraft to take off from their territory if the aircraft would carry any cargo to or from Iraq or Kuwait other than food in humanitarian circumstances, and shall deny permission to any aircraft destined to land in Iraq or Kuwait, whatever its State of registration, to overfly its territory)
– UN Security Council Resolution 674 (29 October 1990 – Demands that the Iraqi authorities and occupying forces immediately cease and desist from taking third State nationals hostage, and mistreating and oppressing Kuwaiti and third State nationals)
– UN Security Council Resolution 677 (28 November 1990 – Condemns the attempts by Iraq to alter the demographic composition of the population of Kuwait and to destroy the civil records maintained by the legitimate Government of Kuwait)
– UN Security Council Resolution 678 (29 November 1990 – Authorizes Member States, unless Iraq on or before 15 January 1991 fully implements Security Council resolutions, to use all necessary means to uphold and implement resolution 660 (1990) and all subsequent relevant resolutions and to restore international peace and security in the area)
– Public Law 102-1 (14 January 1991 – Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq)
– UN Security Council Resolution 687 (8 April 1991 – Decides that, as a condition of a cease-fire, Iraq shall unconditionally accept the destruction, removal, or rendering harmless, under international supervision, of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and all stocks of agents and all related subsystems and components and all research, development, support and manufacturing facilities, as well as all ballistic missiles with a range greater than 150 kilometres and related major parts, and repair and production facilities, and that a Special Commission shall carry out on-site inspection of any locations in Iraq)
– UN Security Council Resolution 688 (5 April 1991 – Condemns the repression of the Iraqi civilian population in many parts of Iraq, including in Kurdish populated areas, and insists that Iraq allow immediate access by international humanitarian organizations)
– Public Law 105-235 (14 August 1998 – Finds that the Government of Iraq is in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations, and urges the President to take appropriate action)
– Public Law 105-338 (31 October 1998 – Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 – finds that it is the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime)
– Public Law 107-243 (16 October 2002 – Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq)
– UN Security Council Resolution 1441 (8 November 2002 – Finds Iraq in material breach of UN resolutions)

Public Law 107-243 – October 16, 2002
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002

H.J. Resolution 114

Joint Resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq

(paraphrased)

– In 1990, the US formed a Coalition to liberate Kuwait after Iraq invaded.
– After the war in Kuwait, Iraq agreed to end its nuclear, biological and chemical programs and its development and delivery programs, and agreed to stop supporting terrorists.
– Weapons inspectors found large chemical weapons stockpiles in Iraq, found a large biological weapons program, and found an advanced nuclear weapons development program.
– Iraq continued to keep inspectors from doing their jobs, which resulted in withdrawal of the inspectors in 1998.
– Congress concluded in Public Law 105-235 that Iraq threatens US interests and international peace and security with its WMD programs, declared Iraq to be in material breach of international obligations, and urged the President to take action to bring Iraq into compliance with its obligations.
– Iraq threatens US national security and peace and security in the Persian Gulf, and is in breach of obligations by maintaining chemical and biological weapons capability, seeking nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harboring terrorists.
– Iraq continues to violate UN Resolutions by brutally repressing its civilian population, by refusing to release non-Iraqi citizens from the Kuwait war, and by failing to return Kuwaiti property.
– Iraq has demonstrated that it’s capable and willing to use WMDs against other nations and its own people.
– Iraq is hostile and willing to attack the US since it tried to assassinate former President Bush and has fired thousands of times on US and Coalition forces enforcing UN Resolutions.
– Members of Al Qaeda are known to be in Iraq.
– Iraq aids and harbors other terrorist groups including organizations that threaten US citizens.
– The September 11 attacks show how bad it would be if terrorists get their hands on WMDs.
– The US is justified in taking action against Iraq because Iraq is capable and willing to use WMDs, there’s a risk that Iraq could use WMDs against the US or provide WMDs to terrorists who would do so, and such an attack would cause extreme harm to the US.
– UN Resolution 678 authorizes use of necessary means to enforce UN Resolution 660 and others, and to force Iraq to stop threatening international peace and security, including WMD development, refusal and obstruction of UN weapons inspectors, repression of its civilian population, and threatening its neighbors.
– In Public Law 102-1, Congress authorized the President to use the US Armed Forces in accordance with UN Resolution 678 to enforce eleven other UN resolutions.
– In December, 1991, Congress said that it supports enforcement of UN Resolution 687, that Iraq’s repression of its civilian population violates UN Resolution 688 and threatens the peace and security of the Persian Gulf, and that it supports enforcement of UN Resolution 688.
– In Public Law 105-338, Congress said that the US should try to remove the current Iraqi regime and replace it with a democratic government.
– President Bush said the US would work with the UN to enforce UN Resolutions, and if the resolutions weren’t enforced, “action will be unavoidable.”
– The US is determined to fight terrorism, and Iraq’s support for terrorist groups combined with its WMD development in violation of UN Resolutions show that it’s in the US interest to enforce UN Resolutions by use of force if necessary.
– Congress has provided authority and funding to fight terrorists and terrorist organizations including anyone responsible for the 9/11 attacks or anyone who harbors those people.
– The President has the authority to take action to deter and prevent terrorist acts against the US as recognized by Congress in Public Law 107-40.
– It’s in the national interest of the US to restore peace and security to the Persian Gulf.

Congress supports the President’s efforts to

– Enforce UN Resolutions regarding Iraq.
– Get the UN Security Council to take action to get Iraq into compliance with UN Resolutions.

Congress authorizes the President “to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to”

– Defend the US national security against the threat posed by Iraq.
– Enforce all relevant UN Resolutions regarding Iraq.