US should govern Iraq after victory: Australia

The Times of India ^ | March 26 2003 | Associated Press

[knighthawk]

CANBERRA: The United States should govern Iraq with the help of Britain and input from Australia in the immediate postwar period, Prime Minister John Howard said on Wednesday.

He added that disunity within the United Nations suggested the world body may not be suitable to help administer a post-conflict government.

Howard said he had given that view to US President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair who would discuss the postwar reconstruction of Iraq at a meeting in the United States this week.

Australia has been one of the staunchest supporters of the tough US line on Iraq and has 2,000 military personnel fighting as part of the allied coalition.

Howard declined an invitation to the meeting because he did not want to leave Australia while its soldiers were at war.

Speaking to the Parliament, Howard said a coalition victory should be followed by an "appropriate interim period" involving "a leadership role for the United States, the involvement of the United Kingdom, and obviously the Australian viewpoint and others would be expressed in those arrangements."

Howard said he saw a "clear role" for the United Nations after that period but did not say what that role should be, or how long the "appropriate interim period" should be.

Instead, he lambasted the anti-war stance of some UN Security Council members and cast doubt on the United Nations' ability help administer Iraq.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[browardchad]

Too bad Howard won't be at the meeting. Blair appears determined do the U.N. resolution comedy routine again.

[SunStar]

Our true allies are quite apparent.

[Cicero]

It's the moment of truth for Tony Blair. If he sticks to his UN mania he will destroy himself.

[SunStar]

Blair appears determined do the U.N. resolution comedy routine again.

That doesn't mean he will be successful in convincing President Bush... LOL

[Shermy]

IN other words, no more "Food for Oil" program buying French wheat but Australian. Chirac goes apopleptic.

[JennysCool]

God bless John Howard.

[AntiGuv]

That doesn't mean he will be successful in convincing President Bush...

True, but Blair's 2 for 2 so far on that score. I wouldn't bet against him..

[SunStar]

True, but Blair's 2 for 2 so far on that score. I wouldn't bet against him.

Well, I'd have to say that the first decision of the two was pushed by Powell. Powell was successful with 1441. It was Blair's "2nd" resolution that was a total failure. I guess we'll wait and see, but I don't see the UN overseeing the interim administration.

[Az Joe]

Absolutely the U.S. should be in charge. We spill blood all over that place and then hand it over to Hans Blix clones?!

Not in this lifetime skippy!

[AntiGuv]

I'm not so sure. We want other nations to defray the $80 billion + cost of the war & aftermath, getting a UN resolution would be the most effective way to accomplish that. I have no firm opinion on whether we'll pursue this, however, just wouldn't be surprised either way..

[Great Wombat]

Pres. Chirac, on the other hand, stated that the US should cede all rights over governing Iraq to an uninvolved country, such as France. That country, if it were, say, France, could then help the Iraqis rebuild their economy by hiring some of the Iraqis to run the oil rigs while the, for the sake of argument, French, sell the oil to the US. There is definitely a place for the UN in the Chirac plan, since "lots of UN countries buy oil". Chirac cited the numerous times France has helped struggling nations gain their independence and develop bustling economies--Algeria, Vietnam, Haiti. . .

Chirac also wants the US to evacuate an area which has traditionally been in the French sphere of influence--the Louisiana Purchase; Chirac granted the US 48 hours to evacuate this formerly French territory and said he would be returning the $15 million Jefferson paid for it. Chirac added that he also had some bad news for Canada.

[SunStar]

We want other nations to defray the $80 billion + cost of the war & aftermath, getting a UN resolution would be the most effective way to accomplish that.

I thought the plan was for Iraq to pay for it's liberation and subsequent reconstruction with their oil wealth.

[gitmogrunt]

...couldn't we give it the same status as vieques,puerto rico use to have?

[GOPJ]

Let's do a "Japan" on Iraq. Give Iraq a constitution, the rule of law, free press, bill or rights, market economy, and democracy. Throw in a three part competitive government for balance, then force it down Iraq's throat. After seven years, we walk away. If they're worth anything, they'll hold on to their freedom forever. If not, they'll descend into totalitarian horror.

[gd124]

Australia is currently the biggest exporter of wheat to Iraq. There is a worry among Australian farmers that once the new regime is installed, it will start buying wheat from the USA.

[Clean_Sweep]

Yes and we all speak the same language.