WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2007 – The United Nations will soon be playing a bigger political role in Iraq, after the Security Council unanimously voted to extend its mission there another year while expanding its mandate. The Aug 10 vote on U.N. Resolution 1770 broadens the responsibilities of the U.N.’s four-year-old mission in Iraq. Under terms of the resolution, cosponsored by the United States, United Kingdom, Italy and Slovakia, the U.N. will now provide increased assistance to the Iraqi government on domestic reconciliation that leads to a national compact. “Clearly, domestic reconciliation is the responsibility of the Iraqi people and...