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Letâs Get Internationally Legitimized (Too Legit to Quit, as they say)
U.N. Chief Trying to Get Nations to Agree on Iraq Plan only the good parts Secretary-General Kofi Annan launched a high-level diplomatic offensive Monday to get feuding nations to unite behind a plan to stabilize Iraq and said the United Nations is prepared to play a major political role to quickly restore its sovereignty. The Security Council is starting to debate a U.S.-proposed draft resolution to get more peacekeeping troops and money into Iraq, but it faces tough opposition led by France and Germany. It would authorize a multinational force to replace the current U.S.-led force, but the United States would command the force and continue to run the civilian administration. But Chinaâs U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said there is a consensus among council members that the United Nations should be given "a vital role in the area of political and economic reconstruction." France has said it would like to see the United Nations take over the administration of Iraq from the United States. Chinaâs Wang said he believes this is "the common position of most of the members -- but itâs up to whether the United States is ready. I think the shorter the transition the better." The secretary-general said economic issues including control of Iraqâs oil production and oil revenue, and responsibility for awarding contracts and privatizing the oil industry are also "very much part of the discussions which are going on at the moment." I know this is tired news but itâs so CUTE. All of the countries involved have indicated they canât/wonât send troops or contribute money. They can only offer us the warm fuzzy feeling of international legitimacy, and expertise in bureaucratic inaction. But they donât hesitate to hold their hands out. Posted by: eyeyeye 2003-09-09 |
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