Greater UN Role In Iraq Urged (Kofi Annan Says Not So Fast)

The Washington Post ^ | 11/22/2003 | Colum Lynch

[johnny7]

UNITED NATIONS -- France, Germany, and Russia yesterday demanded a broader role for the United Nations and other foreign powers in overseeing Iraq's political transition in exchange for the Security Council's blessing of US plans to transfer power to Iraqis. The move signaled a fresh battle for the Bush administration in the 15-nation council over Iraq. The United States plans to introduce a resolution that would endorse a US-Iraqi pact that would culminate in a constitution and elections by Dec. 31, 2005. That agreement, which would lead to the establishment of a provisional Iraqi government by June 30, has been welcomed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and other members of the council.

[johnny7]

Kofi's pissed. The 'Food for Oil' deal expired yesterday.

[armymarinemom]

But yesterday's action by the council's leading opponents of the war in Iraq reflects concern that the plan, which does not refer to the United Nations, could sideline the organization

Too late the above mentioned countries have already caused the UN to be sidelined.

[samtheman]

Why are we in the UN again? I forgot.

[Broadside Joe]

France, Germany, and Russia can go to and stay put. They chose to stay on the sidelines and that's where they should stay.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Annan told council members this week that Baghdad remains too dangerous for UN workers to be permanently stationed there. But he said he would soon appoint a new official to oversee the UN's operations from abroad.

What UN "operations" would he be overseeing from a safe distance?

[alloysteel]

How could the responsibility for rebuilding Iraq be placed in the hands of the UN? Given the opportunity, their administrators have cut and run every time they came under attack. If they cannot or will not stay in place, how could they effectively get on with the task of nation-building?

Not that any nation they would build in Iraq would be an example of either high ideals or moral authority. Perhaps it is a good thing that the UN has shirked the duty.

By default, the job falls upon the US. If what results is a small version of the US in the Middle East, that would be no bad thing in my eyes, but it could really stress the composition of the other national entities in the region.

[CWOJackson]

"France, Germany, and Russia yesterday demanded a broader role for the United Nations and other foreign powers in overseeing Iraq's political transition in exchange for the Security Council's blessing of US plans to transfer power to Iraqis."

Demanded?

Their "blessing"?

What's the proper abbreviation for laughing so hard my kidneys fell out?

[pierrem15]

demanded a broader role for the United Nations and other foreign powers in overseeing Iraq's political transition in exchange for the Security Council's blessing of US plans to transfer power to Iraqis

So now they're saying a democratic and legitinmate Iraqi government cannot take power without their permission.

Eff them. We should boot any UN agency and/or NGO that's not doing anything effective out of the country.