I think both the USA and the UK made it perfectly clear what they considered "serious consequences" to mean with regard to UNSC Resolution 1441, and quite rightly, the President of the United States of America said that he would not delegate responsibility for the safety and security of the United States, it's allies or interests to the UN. In failing to comply with the terms of 1441 and the previous UN SC Resolutions relating to Iraq, Saddam Hussein effectively violated the cease-fire agreement negotiated at Safwan in 1991.