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France Opposes Proposal for U.S.-British Rule in Iraq
Edited to stay on target.
The battle within Europe prompted by the war in Iraq raged on today as President Jacques Chirac of France vowed to oppose a British idea for a Security Council resolution that would give the United States and Britain the right to govern Iraq.
Sure, Jacques, just throw us out, okay?
The deepest fissure was between Britain and France, whose leaders seemed to be talking past each other about the postwar administration of Iraq. Rejecting an idea floated by Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain for a resolution to give international authority to an occupation government in Baghdad, Mr. Chirac told a news conference, "This idea of a resolution seems to me to be a way of authorizing military intervention after the fact and so is not from my point of view fitting in the current situation."
"I will veto the opening prayer if it appears to authorize anything at all!"
Asked in a news conference whether he and his fellow leaders in Europe want a United Nations mandate over Iraq as soon as possible, Mr. Blair replied that a resolution was necessary, not just to address the potential humanitarian crisis in the country but also to authorize what he called "the post-Saddam civil authority" in Iraq.
But in the absence of one, I guess the powers that end up in Baghdad will just have to do the job. Think Jacques, think about what you really want in the end.
"I think there is a general agreement about the central involvement of the United Nations," Mr. Blair said. "Now exactly how that process takes place is precisely the issue that we discuss, but there is a common view now, not just amongst the Europeans but also with the United States, that it is important that we have a new United Nations resolution that authorizes that and that governs not merely the humanitarian situation but also the post-Saddam civil authority in Iraq."
Actually, I think any UN involvement in Iraq is an idea that should be smothered at birth. The wonderful job they're done running Paleostinian hellholes refugee camps should be sufficient reason to include them out in itself. |
With the United Nations' role in postwar Iraq fading unclear, Security Council diplomats indicated after a meeting today that the oil-for-food program, which for the past few years has been the main source of UN revenues food for 60 percent of the Iraqi population, should be revived under the temporary authority of Secretary General Kofi Annan. The lucrative source of graft program was effectively suspended on Monday when United Nations workers were pulled from Iraq. Experts representing the 15 Council members are to meet Saturday to discuss Mr. Annan's March 19 proposal to reauthorize the program.
| Can I vote "No way in hell"? Guess not, huh... |
On Thursday, the European Union leaders signaled that they would resist an American-led administration for Iraq and in a joint statement called for the United Nations to play a central role. But Mr. Chirac seemed to think that a Security Council resolution would make the United States and Britain the de facto governors of Iraq. He added, "France would not accept a resolution tending to legitimize the military intervention and giving the Americans and British the power to administer Iraq."
As opposed to no resolution, which will leave, um, the US and UK in charge.
He said the League of United Nations was not the only body that could take responsibility for rebuilding Iraq, underscoring that he is willing to consider some sort of resolution for rebuilding the country but not one that would seem to legitimize the war or give the United States and Britain exceptional powers. "Whatever the results of the military operation," Mr. Chirac said, Iraq "must be rebuilt, and for that there is just one forum, the United States Nations."
| Got a one-track mind, if any, doesn't he? |
Later in Washington, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said the United States was in contact with members of the Security Council "as to what is appropriate" for a postwar Iraqi authority. "I hope that France will want to be a partner in such an effort, but that remains to be seen," Mr. Powell said.
He said that nicer than I would have.
Britain, which has committed 45,000 troops to the Iraqi campaign, continued to hurl justified accusations that France sabotaged an effort to win international approval at the United Nations for the war. Asked about the plan by France, Germany and Belgium to hold their own defense meeting, Denis McShane, Britain's senior official on Europe, told French reporters, "The idea of a European defense based on Belgium and without England? I wonder how serious this could be."
Ah, the subtle British sense of humor.
Posted by: Steve White 2003-03-22 |
