From AP:
By PETER JAMES SPIELMANN=
^Associated Press=
UNITED NATIONS (AP) _ U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday warned that any ``punitive'' action taken against Syria for an alleged chemical weapons attack last month would be illegal without Security Council or a sound case for self-defense.
The U.S. and France have blamed Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime for the alleged Aug. 21 attack and are considering military action in response. Such a strike would almost certainly occur without the approval of the Security Council, where Russia and China have consistently used their veto power to block action against Assad's regime. The Obama administration argues that a chemical weapons attack cannot go unpunished because of the council's inaction.
``As I have repeatedly said, the Security Council has primary responsibility for international peace and security,'' Ban said at a news conference. ``The use of force is lawful only when in exercise of self-defense in accordance with article 51 of the United Nations Charter and or when the Security Council approves such action.
He also warned that a military strike against Syria could unleash more turmoil and bloodshed in a crisis that has already killed more than 100,000 people.
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Ban did not blame any party for the alleged attack on a Damascus suburb, saying that ``If confirmed, any use of chemical weapons by anyone under any circumstances will be a serious violation of international law and an outrageous war crime.''
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He stressed that an ongoing investigation by U.N. chemical weapons experts ``is uniquely placed to independently establish the facts in an objective and impartial manner.''
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Ban said biological samples collected by the inspectors will arrive in European labs for testing by Wednesday.
So, if the US does it without the UN Security Council's approval, the US does something illegel. The UN would be then obligated to hold the US accountable.
How would that be done? The United Nations would gather its military and attack the US? (sorry couldn't resist to write that...)
Then Ban Ki-moon says also, if chemical weapons were used in Syria, the UN Security Council must unite and take action.
Well, guys, good luck uniting.
PS: That's a hit and run diary.