text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Iraq - Declaration of War
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  It was widely understood that voting for this motion was to officially give Parliamentary approval for the British army to participate in the US-led invasion of Iraq, which began two days later.
  
  The majority of MPs voted for the motion:
  
  ** This House
  * ''notes'' its decisions of [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2002-11-25&number=6 25th November 2002] and [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2003-02-26&number=97 26th February 2003] to endorse [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_1441 UN Security Council Resolution 1441];
  * ''recognises'' that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and long range missiles, and its continuing non-compliance with Security Council Resolutions, pose a threat to international peace and security; </li>
  * ''notes'' that in the 130 days since Resolution 1441 was adopted Iraq has not co-operated actively, unconditionally and immediately with the weapons inspectors, and has rejected the final opportunity to comply and is in further material breach of its obligations under successive mandatory UN Security Council Resolutions;
  * ''regrets'' that despite sustained diplomatic effort by Her Majesty's Government it has not proved possible to secure a second Resolution in the UN because one Permanent Member of the Security Council made plain in public its intention to use its veto whatever the circumstances;
  * ''notes'' the opinion of the Attorney General that, Iraq having failed to comply and Iraq being at the time of Resolution 1441 and continuing to be in material breach, the authority to use force under [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_678 Resolution 678] has revived and so continues today;
  * ''believes'' that the United Kingdom must uphold the authority of the United Nations as set out in Resolution 1441 and many Resolutions preceding it, and therefore supports the decision of Her Majesty's Government that the United Kingdom should use all means necessary to ensure the disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction;
  * ''offers'' wholehearted support to the men and women of Her Majesty's Armed Forces now on duty in the Middle East; 
  * in the event of military operations ''requires'' that, on an urgent basis, the United Kingdom should seek a new Security Council Resolution that would affirm Iraq's territorial integrity, ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian relief, allow for the earliest possible lifting of UN sanctions, an international reconstruction programme, and the use of all oil revenues for the benefit of the Iraqi people and endorse an appropriate post-conflict administration for Iraq, leading to a representative government which upholds human rights and the rule of law for all Iraqis; and
  * also ''welcomes'' the imminent publication of the Quartet's roadmap as a significant step to bringing a just and lasting peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians and for the wider Middle East region, and endorses the role of Her Majesty's Government in actively working for peace between Israel and Palestine.
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  