From the BBC:
The United Nations has overwhelmingly approved a resolution lifting economic sanctions against Iraq and giving its backing to the US-led administration. Fourteen of the 15 Security Council members voted to adopt the resolution with France, Russia and Germany – countries which opposed the war on Iraq – all giving their support. Syria – the sole Arab state represented on the council – boycotted the meeting. Voting took place nine weeks to the day after US-led coalition forces invaded Iraq at the start of a military campaign that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime.
…Mr de Villepin said the agreement on the new resolution showed that the UN was again resuming its place in international politics, adding that international unity was the only way to deal with Iraq’s problems. [“UN approves US Iraq plans”, BBC, May 22, 2003]
Bear in mind that ‘international unity’–i.e., appeasement by the US–was not needed for the US and UK to take out Saddam Hussein.
In its key points on the UN resolution to end sanctions in Iraq the BBC lists the reason why the resolution was approved:
- Russian and French companies will be able to complete lucrative contracts
As a cross–the US should have unilaterally lifted the sanctions nine weeks ago, as opposed to having to wait over two months, in order to lend moral sanction to the corrupt UN body.