Military Action against Iraq and the System of Law Governing the Use of Force.

The legality and the legitimacy of the military operation jointly carried out by the US (United States) and UK (United Kingdom) against the Saddam regime in March 2003 was broadly discussed by international law scholars. More than two and a half years have passed since then, and the international community is now concerned about the re-development issues and the problem of terrorism in Iraq. Thus, doctrinal debates regarding whether the invasion was legal seem to be forgotten. However, it is a fact that; although a considerable time has passed since the invasion of Iraq, the debates concerning the legality of the war and its implications on the international legal regime regulating the recourse to use force have remained uncompleted. In this regard; in the light of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, their different interpretations, the international community's attitude on the matter and the debates on the controversial concept of pre-emptive self-defense; it is difficult to argue that the developments prior to, and in the course of the invasion have transformed the legal system of the use of force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]