Online edition of Daily News

MOREHEAD CITY, NC UNITED STATES : Marines of 1st Battalion 2d Marines depart the North Carolina state port in Morehead City, North Carolina 11 January, 2003 on the USS Ponce for duty with the 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade and further duty as directed. US forces in the Gulf region will be bolstered this month by the addition of some 35,000 troops, bringing the total to 120,000. AFP PHOTO BY JOHN ALTHOUSE

One of the most heartening developments in the US-Iraq standoff which is prompting speculation of another US-led invasion of Iraq, is the bold stand taken by the developing countries headed by South Africa, on the need for transparent deliberations by the UN Security Council on the upcoming report by UN weapons inspectors on their search for "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq.

In a development which refutes claims in some quarters that the Non-Aligned Movement is both "down and out", developing countries, headed by South Africa, are making their collective voice heard on an issue which could very well determine whether the Gulf would be plunged into war once again. The demand of the 118 - member Non-Aligned Movement to the UN Security Council is that the latter holds an open, public session on the crucial report UN arms inspectors in Iraq are expected to forward to it on January 27th.

Countries of the NAM have also warned Council members against authorizing unilateral military action against Iraq, without UN sanction.

By putting forward its stance on the Iraqi arms issue with this degree of forthrightness, resolve and unanimity, the NAM is virtually making a welcome come-back to the arena of world politics after what seems to be a long lay-off. Those seeking an equitable resolution of the Iraqi arms issue could only positively respond to this assertion of their collective will by the NAM. For, it would act as a brake on precipitate, military action by the West in the Gulf, which could spell destruction for a considerable section of the Gulf populace and even threaten global stability and peace.

The collective position of the NAM on discussions on the UN arms report on Iraq and their assertion of the need for UN approval for military action, helps project the NAM as a sizeable opinion bloc to come to terms with. Any military action which would be gone ahead with in the face of opposition of such proportions would run the risk of propelling formidable global divisions and disunity.

Besides, the developing countries are doing well to uphold the authority and supremacy of the UN through their united stance. Defenders of the current global order headed by the UN, are likely to be encouraged by this show of unity by the NAM. Hopefully, this collective resolve would continue.

In fact, even within the Western alliance divisions seem to be emerging on the need for UN sanction for future action on Iraq.

No less a US ally than Britain has raised the issue of a global consensus on the Iraqi arms issue. While insisting that it was backing the US, Britain has made it clear that military action is not a foregone conclusion. "Unless the world takes a stand on (weapons of mass destruction) ..... we will rue the consequences of our weakness", British Premier Tony Blair was quoted saying. French President Jacquez Chirac has also gone on record as warning the US against unilateral military action in the Gulf.

In fact, very interestingly, Premier Blair has called on the US to "listen back" to the grievances of mainly the developing countries. Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and helping to tackle the poverty issue, are two of these. Whether the US could initiate united action in the Gulf is, therefore, emerging as a formidable challenge.