Iraqi minister tells UN to stop sniping, start helping

Yahoo News ^ | Tue Dec 16, 1:57 PM ET | AFP

[pittsburgh gop guy]

Iraqi minister tells UN to stop sniping, start helping

Tue Dec 16, 1:57 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Iraq (news - web sites)'s foreign minister told the UN Security Council to stop bickering over the war that brought down Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and come together to help rebuild his shattered nation.

In a pointed address delivered with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) on hand, Hoshyar Zebari said the United Nations (news - web sites) had failed to stand up to Saddam to defend the Iraqi people, and called for a swift UN return to the country.

"One year ago, the Security Council was divided between those who wanted to appease Saddam Hussein and those who wanted to hold him accountable," Zebari told the 15-nation council, which was sharply divided over the war.

"The UN as an organisation failed to help rescue the Iraqi people from a murderous tyranny of 35 years," he said. "The UN must not fail the Iraqi people again."

Annan, who publicly opposed the US decision to launch the war after failing to win the support of the Security Council, said it was "no time to pin blame and point fingers" over the past.

"I think the UN has done as much as it can for Iraq," Annan told reporters. "So quite honestly I don't think today is the time to hurl accusations."

The United States is hoping that Saturday's capture of Saddam will be able to get the council to unite behind its plans to rebuild the country and hand over power to Iraqis by the end of June.

But the bitter divisions over the war have repeatedly threatened to bubble back to the surface as the council haggles over how to handle Iraq's future.

"The fact that the war was won doesn't make legitimate something that was not legitimate," France's UN ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said after the council meeting. "But this is the past."

Key opponents of the war on the Security Council, including France, Germany and Russia, now are opposed to the United States overseeing the rebuilding and political transition, and want a larger role for the United Nations.

Zebari said the bickering should be put aside and called on the council to find "consensus" on how to help with the task of rebuilding Iraq.

"Settling scores with the United States-led coalition should not be at the cost of helping to bring stability to the Iraqi people," he said.

"Squabbling over political differences takes a back seat to the daily struggle for security, jobs, basic freedoms and all the rights the UN is chartered to uphold."

Zebari also chided Annan for deciding to base his UN team for Iraq in Cyprus and Jordan because of security concerns.

But the UN chief again said Iraq remains too dangerous to bring back his international staff in force. He pulled personnel out of Baghdad several weeks after the suicide bombing of the UN's offices there, which killed 22 people.

"We need much greater clarity on what is expected of the United Nations by Iraqis and by the coalition in terms of assistance to the political transition," Annan told the council.

"In taking the difficult decisions that lie ahead, I need to weigh the degree of risk that the United Nations is being asked to accept against the substance of the role we are being asked to fulfil," he said.

[A Navy Vet]

"Annan told reporters. "So quite honestly I don't think today is the time to hurl accusations."

Gee Kofi, you never seem to question the time to hurl accusations/resolutions at Israel for her limited responses to having Israeli women and children's bodies blown to bits.

Annan, you and your totalitarian friends are now irrelevant. FOAD.

[sarasmom]

You really have to stop thinking in terms of race!LOL.
You probaly have no more relationship to the vileness of a Kofi Annan, than do I to the likes of Hillary Clinton.
I tossed in probably, only because I have not seen many posts from you, not for any other reason.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Don't hold your breath, Iraq. The UN has an agenda and it ain't you. It is pro-Arab, pro-Islam and extremism.

[BobS]

"The UN as an organisation failed to help rescue the Iraqi people from a murderous tyranny of 35 years," he said. "The UN must not fail the Iraqi people again."

Smart man.

What he's really saying is the UN was a drag on the Iraqi people all these years and is worthless; and Iraq will become whole again without them!

Priceless!!!

[Porterville]

What a great idea... auditing the freaking UN and seeing how the money is spent.... where do we start???

[Democratshavenobrains]

I'm sure if DU even acknowledges this story, they are saying all Iraqi government officials are U.S. puppets who are unelected. Hello? Remind me what election Kofi won? Liberals care NOTHING for any people who are on America's side, be they black, white, Arab, or Asian.

[joyce11111]

This was the best article of the day...I loved it!

[sully777]

When reached for comment, reporters noted Money-coffer Annan hastily retreated several miles from Zebari's presence, asked the security council make emergency provisions for total removal of all UN personnel from the "hot zone" around Zebari. Money-coffer Annan also tried to secure funds of $10 million for a new wardrobe of silk suits after Annan admitted soiling himself at Zebari's assertive tone.


Seriously, this has shades of Emporer Selassi's address to the League of Nations, only this time the outcome was different than Ethiopia's destruction at the hands of a thug.


Go Zebari! Hope he made eye contact with the French, German, Syrian, and Russian delegates.

[CyberCowboy777]

Ping

[monkeyshine]

I think the UN has done as much as it can for Iraq

Absolutely nothing, which is exactly as much as it can do.

[American Sovereignty Defender]

Actually, multiply the UN profit by 100. The UN ended up siphoning $2 Billion from IRAQ, not 10-20 million. That 2.2 % of almost 100 Billion in UN contracts was based on Iraqi oil sales with France, Germany, & Russia. The agreement meant the UN skimmed 2.2% off of all oil sales to those three socialist nations. The UN program was so-called "Oil For Food". In reality it was a program of Oil For Weapons and Palaces. Saddam didn't use the money for anything but his elaborate palace/bunkers and military arsenal.

Does anyone wonder why France, Germany and Russia were so opposed to our War with Iraq? They opposed the war over oil and feared they would lose out in billions...and it looks like they are facing that reality right now. I've heard reports that one or more of those countries are considering forgiving the debt that Iraq owes them. I guess that would be a smart move to avoid further scrutiny from the rest of the world. It sort of puts the UN and those three countries at odds since the UN profited of their loss. Ooops! Actually, I'll laugh if complaints are made about this fraus...it could help implode the U-naughty Nations.

[American Sovereignty Defender]

Cicero - Here is my correction to my reply to your post: I confused your statement, and thought I read "10-20 million", not "10-20 Billion" like you wrote. I must be tired. Your numbers are much closer to the figures I heard on the Sean Hannity Show. Anyhow, what's a few Billion among FRiends :)

[American Sovereignty Defender]

Cicero - Here is my correction to my reply to your post #35: I confused your statement, and thought I read "10-20 million", not "10-20 Billion" like you wrote. I must be tired. Your numbers are much closer to the figures I heard on the Sean Hannity Show. Anyhow, what's a few Billion among FRiends :)

[Stultis]

"I think the UN has done as much as it can for Iraq," Annan told reporters.

He's got a point. We're interested in the Iraqi people taking hold of their affairs and building their liberated nation as a free and prosperous state. The U.N., even (allowing imagination to run wild) with the best intentions, would -- due to their obsessions with "process," international standards, and the "soft bigotry" of low expectations -- tend to slow, delay or obstruct the emergence of a healthy new Iraq.

The U.N., and the global poverty pimps in the NGOs, may have done the best they could for the Iraqis by running away.

[ch53gunner]

This was EXACTLY what these pompous, self-aggrandizing stuffed shirts needed to have said to them! Did you read what the French U.N. ambassador said? "The fact that the war was won doesn't make legitimate something that was not legitimate," France's UN ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said after the council meeting. "But this is the past." IN THE PAST?? That's exactly where these spineless cowards have been living - in the past. They have failed to realize that they aren't the major players on the world stage that they once were. And the sooner they come to grips with that, ...Oh, what am I saying? They are in a state of terminal delusion - no hope.

[agrace]

That's the quote I pulled out also - Kofi spoke the absolute truth for a change.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

"The fact that the war was won doesn't make legitimate something that was not legitimate," France's UN ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere said after the council meeting. "But this is the past."

That's right, Froggie. The fact that you and your countrymen aided and abetted a tyrant for decades doesn't make tyranny legitimate.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

Annan told reporters "So quite honestly I don't think today is the time to hurl accusations."

Too bad they are not accusations but facts.

THANK GOD that we have W in the White House and not ALGORE or any one of the 9 dem dwarfs now running. The only one worth a darn is LIEberman - but even ALGORE stabbed him in the back.

The Dems all rip on W's leadership - but they would have the US trust our security and defense with the UN. NO WAY!

oh, and

WOLVERINES!!!!!!!!!

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

The only one worth a darn is LIEberman...

Hmmm. I'm thinking you're not yet fully awake this morning. Loserman was more than willing to sacrifice our national security by aiding and abetting The 'Toon's actions in the Oral Office and by fracturing the nation during the prolonged attempt by the 'Rats to steal the 2000 election in Floriduh. I don't trust Loserman any further than his little, pathetic, whiney voice can be heard.

[lilylangtree]

That's calling a spade a spade.