Key U.N. nations eye Iraq resolution changes

Reuters ^ | 6/3/04 | Evelyn Leopold

[Nasty McPhilthy]

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iraq's foreign minister faces a U.N. Security Council today divided over how much authority Baghdad should have over U.S. troops when an interim Iraqi government takes office on June 30.

France, Russia and China say an amended draft of a U.S.-British resolution on Iraq's future is still too vague over what sovereignty means after the U.S.-led occupation officially ends. Russia in particular wants to see the reaction of Iraqis to the new government before a vote on the measure.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said he intended to help shape the resolution when he addresses the 15-nation council at an open meeting on Thursday afternoon.

"This is a very important resolution for us. And definitely we need to have our own input," he told reporters after arriving on Wednesday.

The aim of the resolution is to get international endorsement for the formation of an interim Iraqi government and to authorise a U.S.-led multinational force, which would be empowered to take "all necessary measures" to keep the peace.

One of the main concerns among council members is that the draft does not spell out whether the Iraqi military can refuse an offensive action ordered by the U.S.-led force of 130,000 troops.

Instead it relegates coordination to side letters.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Iraqis and U.S. commanders would be partners but there could be times when the United States takes action against Iraqi wishes.

"You can't use the word 'veto,'" Powell said in an interview with the Middle East Broadcasting Centre to describe Iraqi power. "There could be a situation where we have to act and there may be a disagreement, and we have to act to protect ourselves or to accomplish a mission."

Abdallah Baali, Algeria's U.N. ambassador and the council's only Arab delegate, said, "We need to have clarity on the way the multinational force is going to operate in Iraq and we definitely think the Iraqi government should have an important say in all decisions regarding its operations."

But U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said the measure needed only "fine-tuning" and that he expected it to be adopted soon. No vote has been set but most envoys expected the resolution to pass, albeit not immediately and with changes.

"Full exercise of sovereignty will be restored to the people and government of Iraq by June 30. I don't have any doubt about that," said Negroponte, who will be the American ambassador in Iraq in July.

The first order of business for Zebari, who has been foreign minister since September, was to meet Negroponte and his British counterpart, Emyr Jones Parry, who hosted a working dinner Wednesday evening for the Iraqi delegation.

Zebari said he had received instructions from the newly named Iraqi leaders, who also concentrated on security concerns at their first cabinet meeting in a U.S.-protected zone.

French President Jacques Chirac said the resolution needed "to affirm and confirm the full sovereignty of the Iraqi government, particularly in the military domain."

Russia has a long list of demands, including wanting two resolutions, one immediately to endorse an interim government and another after it takes office for all other issues.

"The Security Council (must) be certain that the government commands acceptance inside Iraq and outside Iraq, in other words that it is legitimate," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Norway on Tuesday.

The resolution touches on three phases of Iraqi rule: the interim government that takes office on June 30, an elected transitional government that is to be in power by January 2005 and a permanent government after approval of a constitution that is to take office by 2006.

In response to objections to the previous draft, the new version of the resolution stipulates that the mandate of the international force would expire automatically once a permanent Iraqi government takes office, envisaged in 2006.

The original measure had an open-ended mandate, with periodic reviews.

[B4Ranch]

Subject: If George Patton were President today.


If General George Patton were alive and President of the USA, this would
be his Fireside Speech:

"My fellow Americans, as you all know, the defeat of Iraq's regime has been
completed. Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this
war, our mission in Iraq is complete. This morning I gave the order for a
complete removal of all American forces from Iraq. This action will be
complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning. Before me,
I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood
by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United
Kingdom, Spain, Bulgaria, Australia, Norway and Poland are some of the
countries listed there. The other list contains everyone not on the first
list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will
be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.

Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those
nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved
during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi
war. The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world
hell-holes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption. Need
help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France.

In the future, together with Congress, I will work to cut taxes and solve
some local problems. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations. Screw
with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends
from the face of the earth. Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try
France, or maybe China. To Israel and the Palestinian Authority. You boys
work out a peace deal now. Just note that Camp David is closed. Maybe all
of you can go to Russia for negotiations. They have some great palaces
there. Big tables, too.

I'm ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France,
Germany, and Russia. Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring
from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes amis.

I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN
diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid tickets
to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed. I
don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. Pay your tickets
tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers, and limos be turned over
to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York.

A special note to our neighbors. Canada is on List 2. Since we are going to
be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing
s off for a change. Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire
corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I have a couple
extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I'm gonna put
'em? Yep, border security. So start doing something with your oil.

Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the
world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the
planet. It is time to cut taxes here because we will not be spending on
other peoples' problems.

To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thanks guys, we owe you. To the
nations on List 2, a final thought. Drop dead. God bless America. Thank you
and good night."