May 9, 2003: US and Britain Propose to Control Iraq’s Oil Revenues

The US and Britain submit a proposed resolution to the UN Security Council that would declare the two countries to be “occupying powers” in Iraq. Under international law, occupying powers must meet certain legal obligations. The proposed resolution would also give the US and Britain full control of Iraq’s oil revenues. [Guardian, 5/10/2003] The resolution will be approved in its final form on May 22 (see May 22, 2003).