So CarolC UN Security Council Resolution 1441

"specifically forbade anyone to use force against Saddam"

Now this is a fairly well defined, and carefully crafted document. Please produce the passages of that document that support your contention - They don't exist.

In tabling 1441 the US was perfectly clear on what THEY regarded as "serious consequences" - they parked 250,000 troops on Iraq's borders just to emphasise the point (That by the way is what got UNMOVIC Inspectors into Iraq - It had damn all to do with the largess or willingness on the part of Saddam Hussein) Saddam thought that he could bluff this one out - unfortunately he was in error. It is also unfortunate that Iraq Body Count didn't find it necessary to tally up the deaths in Iraq during Saddam's time in power - rough, very rough, estimates are between 154 and 282 deaths per day - That is per day since 1979 (24 years) just to put things into perspective.