URGENT - U.N. Security Council unanimously approves expansion of U.N. role in Iraq

[bemildred]

Source: Seems ot be AP

Any volunteers?

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Friday expanding the United Nations' role in Iraq in a move aimed at reconciling the country's rival groups, winning support from neighboring countries and tackling Iraq's humanitarian crisis.

The resolution authorizes the U.N., at the request of the Iraqi government, to promote political talks among the country's ethnic and religious groups and a regional dialogue on issues including border security, energy and refugees.

The United States and Britain, who have the largest military forces in Iraq and cosponsored the resolution, believe the U.N. should play a greater part there because the world body is viewed by many as a more neutral party that can facilitate talks among feuding parties.

Read more: http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=565066775566615888

[iconoclastic cat]

1. Oh, now they *like* the UN? nt

[rodeodance]

2. This vote will be a big deal-as WH will include as a reason to STAY

[bemildred]

3. Could go either way. Bush likes to talk out both sides of his mouth.

I was thinking of it as a fig-leaf for eventual withdrawal, but it could be used as an argument to delay that too. The thing is, I don't think it's going to work out, no matter how many resolutions they pass unanimously.

[struggle4progress]

9. Bingo

[karynnj]

4. If it weren't for Bush's speech yesterday, this might have

given hope that they were accepting reality and realizing that taking the American face off this and actually using diplomacy to facilitate reconciliation. The problem is reconciling this with Bush's strongest reiteration of neo-con ideas.

[Paulie]

5. cough cough Kucinich cough cough

The UN in and the US out.

[Africa1]

6. UN is Now Relevant?

Did'nt our great King George W Bush,Rummy,Wolfie,Condi,Sleazeball Cheney,and the rest of warmongers declare the UN irrelevant and usless,right before they kicked the UN inspectors out of completing their serach for WMD's in Iraq?

[Amonester]

16. Yes, but these war criminals realized they won't get their oil law...

... (their real reason for comitting their war crime to start with) passed if they continue to declare the UN irrelevant and useless.

Now, the UN might be THEIR LAST RESORT (to "accomplish their mission" on behalf of Big Oil Corporations).

Tragically ironic, is it not?

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Where's the interview with John Bolton on how evil the UN was?

[DLnyc]

8. A much longer article, but in French

From "le Monde", 10 August:

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-943665@51-767621,0.html

an attempt at translation:

"The US has been trying for several months to get the UN to play a larger role in Iraq, an idea for which the security general, Ban Ki-moon, expressed support during his July 17 meeting with president George W. Bush in Washington. In spite of the continued insecurity in the country and the reluctance of UN personel, the Security Council, on Friday August 10, increased the role of the UN Mission in Iraq (MANUI).

"The American-British resolution, adopted unanimously by the fifteen members and numbered 1770, extends by one year MANUI's mandate, which was about to expire. The text also provides that the special UN representative in Iraq and MANUI shall, 'circumstances permitting', provide 'council, support and assistance' to the Iraqi government in several domains: political, electoral, constitutional, judicial, economic. This assistance will also include such domains as humanitarian issues, the promotion of human rights, and the return and reintergration of refugees.

"A Political and Humanitarian Role

"At the same time, the text underlines the 'imortant role' of the multinational force in supporting MANUI, particularly in the area of security, . . .

(snip)
" . . . When a journalist . . . asked if the resolution signified that Washingon wanted to progressively hand Iraq over to the UN, M. Bayati replied that the US and the UN have 'different roles'. 'The American forces are not going to be replaced by the UN. The UN is not going to send forces. The US has a military and security role, the UN will assume a different role, which is political and humanitarian', he stated.

"The hierachy and personel at the UN remain quite preoccupied with the insecurity in Iraq, since the death of twenty-five employees . . . in a truck bombing . . . in Bagdad on August 12, 2003. Tuesday, the union of the UN personel {?} adopted a motion demanding that M. Ban 'not deploy extra personel to Iraq and recall those currently based in Baghdad until the securtiy conditions improve.'

Hope this is not too far off from the actual meaning.
Too bad complete reporting doesn't seem to exist in English.

[JDPriestly]

17. Thanks for the link.

[OKIsItJustMe]

19. Better reporting in English

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_IRAQ

Aug 10, 5:06 PM EDT

UN steps toward greater role on Iraq

By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The Security Council voted unanimously Friday to expand the U.N. role in Iraq and opened the door for the world body to promote talks to ease Iraq's sectarian bloodshed.

The broader U.N. initiatives on Iraq - which could begin next month - were supported by Washington in an apparent bid to bring together Iraqi factions and neighboring countries under an international umbrella rather than struggling on its own to bridge the many religious, ethnic and strategic battles opened by the five-year-old war.

The Bush administration is also seeking ways to boost the embattled government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, which has been paralyzed by internal political feuds.

...

[OKIsItJustMe]

20. From the UN News Service ...

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=23479&Cr=iraq&Cr1=

Ban Ki-moon hails Security Council resolution on strengthened UN role in Iraq

10 August 2007 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that a new Security Council resolution on the work of the United Nations in Iraq paves the way for the world body to “enhance” its role in such key areas as national reconciliation, regional dialogue, humanitarian assistance and human rights.

Mr. Ban told the 15-member body that he welcomed the unanimously passed resolution to renew for a year and strengthen the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).

“A peaceful and prosperous future is for Iraqis themselves to create, with the international community lending support to their efforts,” he said.

“The United Nations looks forward to working in close partnership with the leaders and people of Iraq to explore how we can further our assistance under the terms of the resolution.”

...

[LuckyLib]

10. Step right up, nations of the world! We have lit the fuse to a shit-storm -- welcome to the mess!

[Spazito]

11. As long as the US remains in Iraq, any actions from the UN will be

both meaningless and have no credibility among those they will try to talk with, imo.

[ohio2007]

12. So, this means the US troops will put on the "blue hats"?

I doubt we will have any takers from the neighborhood around Iraq.

[JDPriestly]

13. This is the beginning of the Bush pull-out, and the U.N. peacekeepers' pull-in.

If I recall correctly, Bush rejected the suggestion of a U.N. presence during his 2004 campaign. Here we go.

[Javaman]

14. just another one on the long list of people having to help moron* out of

another one of his* colossal screw ups.

amazing, simply amazing.

now who is irrelevant mr bush*?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

15. a glimmer of hope

we have to stop breaking Iraq and start mending it.

[lovuian]

18. Sounds wonderful

but is it too late???