Blair plays down the UN's role in rebuilding Iraq

The Daily Telegraph ^ | March 27, 2003 | George Jones, Ben Brogan and Toby Harnden

[MadIvan]

Reports of Blair wanting to hand over the administration of post-war Iraq to the UN, have been greatly exaggerated. As this indicates, Blair just wants their endorsement for the American-British administration.

A politically clever move might be to avoid the UN entirely, but get the leading nations of the Coalition to run it - probably a far more international administration than the UN ever would be. Have Australian, British, American, Spanish, Polish and Danish administrators in the lead.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[agincourt1415]

UN Role - ZERO!

NOTHING!

UN gets NOTHING!

[TLBSHOW]

Mr Blair stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of American and British soldiers before

handing over to the UN.

[TLBSHOW]

UN Role - ZERO!
NOTHING!

UN gets NOTHING!
.....

BUMP

[rhombus]

Come now, in the interest of multilateralism the UN should have a role -- the latrines will need emptying -- get moving Chirac and Putin.

[merrin]

Tony Blair sought last night to avert a rift with President George W Bush by agreeing that the United Nations' role in post-war Iraq should be limited to humanitarian aid until America and Britain had made the country safe.

I agree. Then once it's been made safe, Brits and Americans can take over the humanitarian aid as well.

[CarmelValleyite]

NO role for the UN -- it should be dismantled post haste - IRRELEVANT!!!!!

[MonroeDNA]

They still hope that somehow Clintonian physics still works.

GW has real integrity, and Texans don't forget.

The UN is officially irrelevant, as of last week.

They can gaze at their navel all they want. This will get more funny as time goes on.

France is officially a second-rate aging actress.

[goldylight]

NO SOUP FOR YOU!

[Reb Raider]

I like the idea of the coalition countries doing this. At least the Iraqi people know that these countries acknowledge they were living under a butcher and weren't trying to rake in profits on arms and oil like France,Germany and Russia. It would be an insult to have these countries come in and tell them now "We are hear to help now that the bloodly part is out of the way".

[PhiKapMom]

Blair to press Bush to agree U.N. role in Iraq
Reuters | 3/26/03 | Mike Peacock


Posted on 03/26/2003 8:51 AM CST by kattracks


Blair to press Bush to agree U.N. role in Iraq

By Mike Peacock

LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair flew to Washington on Wednesday for a war council with President George W. Bush, insisting that the United Nations must play a central role in post-war Iraq.

But his twin aims of healing a gaping transatlantic rift between America and Europe, and binding the United Nations into the reconstruction of Iraq, represent huge challenges with Washington still smarting at a snub from the Security Council.

Publicly, Blair said he saw no problems.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/876085/posts

Will the real Tony Blair stand up or did he have a call from 1600 Pennyslvania Ave after his first comments about involving the United Nations?

[Mr. Silverback]

Like your plan.

[Miss Marple]

I think you are missing the Reuters slant to the story. They LOVE the UN and will twist anything to match their agenda.

[MadIvan]

We can elaborate on it - Have an American in the lead, and then British and Australian deputies, with departments assigned to Allied officers based on their competences.

Everyone is happy out of this arrangement - the UN is bypassed, which satisfies America, it's a genuinely international arrangement, which satisfies the Labour Party, and the allies see the direct benefit of having done the right thing - they are seen as part of a great endeavour, the reconstruction of a country after a painful dictatorship.

Regards, Ivan

[crz]

It might take years to make it safe enough for them. Heh Heh heh.

[Mr. Silverback]

These are Iraqi people getting food. See any UN bureaucrats in the photo?

A U.S. Marine greets an Iraqi man as others surround him prior to the distribution of a shipment of humanitarian aid, in Safwan, Iraq (news - web sites), on Wednesday, March 26, 2003. Three trailers of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society carrying food supplies and mineral water arrived at the border town.(AP Photo/Gustavo Ferrari)

[agincourt1415]

I'm gona love seeing the UN try and horn in, its going to be so funny.

They are about to see how the BUSH FAMILY is about disloyalty.

[MIgramma]

I agree, probably a lot of spin on their part.

[agincourt1415]

UN LOL

BAWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

WHITEHOUSE please take note of this THREAD!