"Coalition of the willing" is a phrase used to refer to groups of nations acting collectively and militarily outside of United Nations auspices. The phrase came to international attention in 2002 when it was used to reference the coalition engaged in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Origins of the phrase
The precise origins of the phrase are unknown, but it has been used since at least the late 1980's to refer to the need for nations to act collectively despite United Nations opposition. Specific uses of the phrase in the context of disarming Iraq began appearing in mid 2001.
The first American President known to have publicly mentioned acting with a "coalition of the willing" in place of a UN mandate was Bill Clinton. The phrase was later used by George W. Bush to refer both to actions in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Criticism of the phrase
US senator Robert Byrd has referred to the coalition formed for the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the acronym COW, perhaps to suggest the image of a placid farm animal or to imply "cowardice".
Many of the nations in the coalition formed for the 2003 invasion of Iraq stand to receive substantial aid packages from the United States in return for their support. It is for this reason that some editorial cartoons and political commentators have mockingly referred to them as the "coalition of the billing".
See:
External links and references
- Bush: Join 'coalition of willing' -- CNN online article
- Coalition Members, White House list of 49 coalition countries
- A Coalition of the Willing? Misnomer, February 11, 2003 - summary of public opinion on Iraq invasion