U.S. Is Trying to Coax U.N. to Return to Iraq

[kskiska]

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 8 -- The Bush administration is launching an effort to persuade the United Nations to return to Iraq in coming months and to support the U.S. plan for transferring governing power to Iraqis by June 30.

The emerging U.S. strategy will be outlined Friday by John D. Negroponte, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Britain's U.N. envoy Emyr Jones Perry, in a closed-door meeting with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, according to U.S. and U.N. officials.

The United Nations withdrew its personnel after a suicide attack killed 22 of its staffers. Annan remains reluctant to send them back into harm's way, particularly if the delegation will not have independent authority to help shape the country's political future. Annan has set a Jan. 19 meeting to discuss the United Nations' role in Iraq.

On Friday, the U.S. and British delegations will sound out Annan on new pledges by the United States to protect U.N. personnel and on possibilities for a more sharply defined role for the organization.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1495-2004Jan8.html

[bemildred]

1. I suppose this is what all the propaganda in the

last week about how much better its getting in Iraq
was about. The mortar attack and chopper shootdown
won't help much.

[CHIMO]

2. Without

France, Russia and Germany I don't think that it is a go.
Annan has to answer to his members, not like others that come to mind.

[burrowowl]

3. Good shot!

Of course Bu$hie will want the UN to act as the U$ catspaw.

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

4. If I were the U.N., I think my reply would be "Go to Hell"

But I'm not.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. So any takers on a DU bet?

how long until they take the bet?

My personal bet, NOT UNTIL the November Electionss. they are having way too much fun seeing us flail in the wind.

[CHIMO]

8. Are

You betting $US or gold?

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. how about bragging rights?

[CHIMO]

11. OK

You won. Can't compete there.

[bpilgrim]

6. send in the clowns...

peace

[54anickel]

7. Great pic. Love the look on Powell's face!

[Dover]

9. They should make their return conditional on new U.S. leadership

If a Dem wins, there is a much better chance of restoring relations with the UN and getting their help and extricating us from this mess.

[preciousdove]

12. Is the US still withholding dues?

I wouldn't take us seriously until we were responsiblie for our obligations and the adminstration agreed to actually particpate rather than spit in the UN's eye.

[ConcernedCanuk]

13. Interesting - there were NO attacks on the UN when Saddam was there

.
.
. Now Saddam, (the "bad" guy) is gone, The USA (the *cough* "good" guy) is in:

And now the UN ain't safe there ! ? ! ?

The UN coulda still been there, the world woulda been safer, and the US taxpayers over a 100 Billion $$ left over for silly sh_t like Health Care and Education - -

Over 10,000 Iraqi civilians still would be alive, around 500 young Americans would still be alive, and thousands of young Americans would not be wounded, never mind those that will suffer chemical and psychological ailments for the rest of their lives - -

And now get this - From the article:

"Secretary of State Colin L. Powell has been engaged in discussions with Annan on how the United States and its military allies might provide greater security for U.N. officials.

U.S. officials concede that they have no intention of assigning the United Nations sufficient independence in Iraq to negotiate new terms for the political transition.

But they insist that they do want to deepen U.N. participation. They said they want the organization to participate in drafting an interim constitution and help organize regional caucuses.

The Bush administration would also like the United Nations to urge groups outside the political process to support the U.S. plan for creating a government. Those groups include key Shiite Muslim leaders and representatives of the Sunni Consultative Council, a newly established association of Sunni religious and political figures. "We hope that the United Nations can play a useful role in bringing these groups along in support of the agreement," a U.S. official said. "

/snip/

So, the US just wants a "rubber stamp" of the UN

right

Well, the UN is a peacekeeping body, the USA is a WarMachine

Get the WarMachine otta there, THEN the UN should go ahead and do the peacekeeping part.

USA should get the feck out, let experienced Peacekeepers in, AND PAY THE BILL.

They "broke" it, so they (the USA) should pay

Apologies to the US taxpayers, but only you ( the US taxpayers / voters) have the power to turn the USA WarMachine off

(sigh)

[0007]

16. Wish someone would bring that point out to the American people

then perhaps the junior lovers would change their minds. The whore networks have most Americans muzzled.

[heidler]

17. Bush has a moral obligation to resign so this can end.

Just based on the smaller likely death count of our troops and as a good Christian LOL he should pull the plug on himself.

[cthrumatrix]

14. but...but.....shrub said they are "irrelevant"....

as the media gives him another free pass on "any previous rhetoric"

[leftchick]

15. "Occupiers, UN Discuss Iraq's Future"

I love Aljazeera's headline of this story!....

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7236AB80-5145-4EE3-B450-A935C6D71BE9.htm