Bush's Brahimi Gamble [UN envoy in Iraq]

Opinion Journal.com ^ | 4/20/04 | WSJ Editorial Board

[jjm2111]

America shows weakness in Iraq by passing the buck to the U.N.

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 12:01 a.m.

One mystery of the last year in Iraq is that a U.S. occupation that is supposed to midwife democracy has put so little trust in Iraqis. The Bush Administration may be compounding that error now by abdicating decisions about the June 30 transition to Iraqi rule to U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.

[jjm2111]

Why won't we ever learn? The UN hates our guts and accomodates every oligarch and tin pot dictator on the planet. We should get out of this organization.

There are people in Iraq who support the American model and only want freedom, yet we put them on the same level as the Islaminuts who like to mutilate women's genitals in the intrest of 'fairness'.

The craveness of our leadership sickens me.

[WOSG]

I agree with the editorial. The UN is not helpful at all, they are merely regugitating previous proposals and creating more uncertainty... why allow that?

The real goal now should be elections, since we are not intent on creating a strong governing presense on our own.

[Filibuster_60]

This article misses the point. The governing council has gained more legitimacy largely through becoming more independent of coalition control - read: becoming less pro-American. Not one of the GC members openly supported our tough military response to the Fallujah killings while several came out against it. The renewed insurgency has empowered those GC members who aren't perceived as being too pro-American (Panachi, Sistani, etc.) and marginalized those who are (Chalabi). The violence has also increased the influence of moderate Islamists both Sunni and Shia - it was their mediation that led to the ceasefires - at the expense of secularists.

With or without the UN, we can no longer ensure Iraq's new leaders will be loyal to us.

[Shazolene]

Another dumb move courtesy of Colin Powell and the State Dept. They will NOT learn. Ever. They have no allegiance to the US and our interests. They have no interest in advancing our policies. Their job is to get along with the 'one-worlders' -- so we will lose no matter how much we win -- if after we win, we hand the prize to State.

W, get 'em out of there!!!