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EXCLUSIVE U.N. Security Council gives U.S. go-ahead
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
By Steven Edwards / National Post

Private assurances go beyond members' public stances

UNITED NATIONS -- National Post Online
The United Nations Security Council has given the green light to the United States to launch a "proportionate" military strike inside Afghanistan in retaliation for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Sources inside the Security Council say the 15 member nations unanimously agreed that their Sept. 12 resolution condemning the attacks also endorsed an initial military response by the United States, and that Washington requires no further UN permission to act.

This is contrary to the public stances of Security Council members France, China and Russia, which hold veto power in the council. Those countries' leaders have argued that the UN, not Washington, should lead the international fight against terrorism announced by George W. Bush, the U.S. President.

The change has come about, say the sources, because Washington's approach to retaliation appears to be "measured" and "in the spirit" of the resolution.
(More: National Post News Source)
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