And that leads to the third and most valuable effect of the resolution.

ECONOMIST: Iranian sanctions

On September 16th, the Americans vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to this effect, because it did not explicitly condemn Palestinian terrorist groups.

ECONOMIST: If Arafat goes? | The

The secretary's office also instructed senior officials to plan how to manage their funds given the continuing budget resolution then in effect and the looming budget sequester scheduled for 2013.

WSJ: Review & Outlook: FAA Bonuses and the Sequester

And if they prevail, that will have a very positive carryover effect on the looming fights on the FY2012 budget resolution as well as the debt limit.

FORBES: GOP Wins First Skirmish in Budget Fight, But Shutdown Battle Still Looms

Speaking in a joint statement, they said the resolution meant legal proceedings were "at an end with immediate effect".

BBC: Damien Shannon

More immediately worrying is the cumulative, potentially ham-stringing effect of the various accommodations reached over the past two months in the negotiation of Resolution 1441 itself.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: us_wants_saddam