U.S. says will not cede control of Iraq to U.N.

Reuters | 3/26/03

[kattracks]

U.S. says will not cede control of Iraq to U.N.

WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) - The United States will not cede control of Iraq to the United Nations if and when it overthrows President Saddam Hussein, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday.

"We didn't take on this huge burden with our coalition partners not to be able to have a significant dominating control over how it unfolds in the future," Powell told a House of Representatives subcommittee.

"We would not support ... essentially handing everything over to the U.N. for someone designated by the U.N. to suddenly become in charge of this whole operation," he added.

"We have picked on a greater obligation -- to make sure there is a functioning Iraqi government that is supported by the coalition, the center of gravity remaining with the coalition, military and civilian," he said.

Powell said the United Nations should, however, have a role in a post-Saddam Iraq, if only because it makes it easier for other countries to contribute to reconstruction costs.

"If we ask these nations to go get funds from their parliaments, it makes it a lot easier for them to get those funds and contribute those funds to the reconstruction effort ... if it has an international standing," he said.

The coalition is the Bush administration's term for the United States, Britain and the other minor contributors to the invasion of Iraq they launched last week.

The question of the U.N. role has come to the fore in the last few days because of debates in New York on the terms for releasing Iraqi oil money to pay for humanitarian relief.

The problem is expected to loom even larger if the United States takes control in Baghdad and then starts managing the Iraqi oil industry or seeking funds for reconstruction.

Washington will argue that as the victor it has the right to manage the transition to an Iraqi civilian government. Its opponents will say that the invasion was illegal and that the United Nations cannot endorse it retroactively.

Powell was speaking to the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.

03/26/03 17:17 ET

[UncleSamUSA]

"We didn't take on this huge burden with our coalition partners not to be able to have a significant dominating control over how it unfolds in the future," Powell told a House of Representatives subcommittee.

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS, SPORTS FANS... POWELL IS FINALLY STARTING TO TALK LIKE AN AMERICAN !!

[KriegerGeist]

I hope that nobody in the Administration caves on this. The U.N. should be completely out...especially France & Russia.

Powell was saying different, but I hope he is over-ridden.

The U.N. now and forever will be irrelevant.

The United States & Britian along with the Aussies are fighting and some dying. We ("coalition of the willing") should be the ones in charge.

[Redcloak]

France weeps.

Daschle is saddened.

[dead]

Kofi has repeatedly referred to us as the belligerents, and has stated that the UN will not stand by and let the belligerents supervise the rebuilding of Iraq.

Kofi's full of bluster, but he better raise a mighty powerful army if he wants to back any of it up.

[browardchad]

I am worried the British won't go along with this.

I doubt if Powell would be the spokesperson if we are not serious. It's an encouraging statement, in light of Blair's continued suggestions that the U.N. must be consulted, which are not encouraging.

I'd like to know what the U.N. plans to do with the estimated $20 billion+ is has on account from the Iraqi Oil-for-Food program, if they refuse to give it to us to administer.

Put it in a trust fund for Saddam's heirs, maybe?

[rwfromkansas]

Britain reportedly wants the U.N. in charge. Hopefully, we will stand firm.

[JoeSchem]

Let's install a corrupt dictator and start a bloody civil war. That would accomplish the same thing as turning the country over to the UN.

[hchutch]

Forgot all about that bunch.

I still stand by my comments re: Russia.

[dead]

I'd like to know what the U.N. plans to do with the estimated $20 billion+ is has on account from the Iraqi Oil-for-Food program,

It’s slowly evaporating into wispy Swiss bank accounts as we speak.

Kofi ain’t gonna be driving no Geo Prism when he leaves office.

[TheSpottedOwl]

What I would like to see is the United States immediately withdrawing from the UN after we achieve victory in Iraq. It would be nice if all our allies followed suit. France, Germany, Russia, and China could spend the rest of their days denouncing us to Kofi Annan.

Of course when we withdraw, we will also evict :)

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

The coalition is the Bush administration's term for the United States, Britain and the other minor contributors to the invasion of Iraq they launched last week.

It wouldn't be a Reuters story without a sneer like this.

[eureka!]

Kewl. GoPowellGo....

[GOPJ]

The world must know American adults are in charge.

Your comment is on the money:

Excellent. We should all send Annan, Chirac, Schroeder and Putin the story of the Little Red Hen (moral of the story: those who don't help make dinner, don't eat dinner).

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The UN can pack up and move to France, eh ?

[Brett66]

This is fantastic. Not only does it stick it to the UN, the Iraqis have a much brighter future without their simpering beauracrats in charge.

[TheSpottedOwl]

chirac cancels his drapery order. And curses George Washington all over again.

Bwahahhahahaa! I laughed so hard, the neighbors probably heard me!!!

[proud American in Canada]

terrific news! :)

[Reb Raider]

Hey, I wish we could do that. I have seen such hatred for us from the U.N. that I want them out of the country. I am hoping Bush gives Blair some Texas size oranges during their meeting, and hopefully the British are just as outraged by the French, Russians, and Germans to give him some autonomy here. However, I watched his Parliament going batty over needing U.N. guidance and help with the rebuilding and humanitarian effort early this morning and I just don't know how much he can take politically if he doesn't. He may want France to make an idiot of themselves again at the U.N. and we will have another circus and America is the terrorist debate that I would rather skip--

[Reagan Man]

>>>The United States will not cede control of Iraq to the United Nations if and when it overthrows President Saddam Hussein, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Wednesday.

There's no if in it!

The regime of the gangster Saddam is just about through.