U.N. war critics bow to U.S. stance - France, Russia to OK plan for reconstruction

SF Chronicle ^ | 10-15-03 | Colum Lynch, Washington Post

[Oldeconomybuyer]

United Nations -- France, Russia and Germany on Tuesday dropped their demands that the United States grant the United Nations a central role in Iraq's reconstruction and yield power to a provisional Iraqi government in the coming months.

The move constituted a major retreat by the Security Council's chief anti- war advocates and signaled their renewed willingness to consider the merits of a U.S. resolution aimed at conferring greater international legitimacy of its military occupation of Iraq.

All three countries now seem willing to accept a resolution that would retain U.S. authority over Iraq's political future while extending only a symbolic measure of sovereignty to Iraqis.

[samtheman]

The move constituted a major retreat by the Security Council's chief anti- war advocates ...

... and a major defeat for anti-American advocates in the Democratic Party.

[Support Free Republic]

Got a minute?

I'd really like you to rub my ears,
or help out FR.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Wow, that is quite the victory. Good job, Bush and Powell.

Now, just get them to pony up more dough.

[Jalapeno]

Blowing up the French missiles disovered in Iraq helped I'm sure.

[Broadside Joe]

Hmmm.. let's not jump the gun here. After all we're talking about France.

[Coop]

Kofi Anal is still doing his best to pee in the bowl of Wheaties, but things certainly are sounding more positive than just a few days ago.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I can't figure how Bush could alert voters about this triumph without pissing off our new allies. That sucks.

[wayoverontheright]

All three countries now seem willing to accept a resolution that would retain U.S. authority over Iraq's political future while extending only a symbolic measure of sovereignty to Iraqis.

If Clinton were engineering these political triumphs, the NYT's headline might be

UN, POLITICAL OPPOSITION, BLUDGEONED BY PRESIDENT. AGAIN.

[Coop]

Which new allies? Not sure I'm following you, unless you're calling Russia, France & Germany new allies with regards to finally supporting (supposedly) this resolution.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Yes, that's what I mean.

[Coop]

Yes, that's what I mean.

Okay. I look at them not so much as allies, but more as the snickering teens making fun GW's party he was throwing, until they found out all the cool kids are at the party. Now they're trying to wiggle a belated invitation. :-)