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Canberra rejects UN Iraq troop request
AUSTRALIA has quietly rejected diplomatic overtures from the United Nations and the US to contribute to a military force to protect UN officials in Iraq. The requests, made through Australia's diplomatic missions in New York and Washington, came as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was struggling to gain international support for a security force to protect UN officials working in Iraq. With only a handful of small nations, including Fiji, responding to the call for help, the UN has had to fall back on the fully stretched US military for protection. It has sought at least 500 military personnel or police as well as other specialist advisers to ensure the security of the UN mission in Baghdad. The lack of adequately trained security forces has handicapped the UN in its determination to assume a wider role in Iraq and assist the Iraqi Government with planning for the January 2005 national election. The real story here is how the supporters of the UN are, when push comes to shove, unwilling to support the UN. Where are the multi-nationalists - France, Spain, etc.? It may be finally dawning on the multi-nationalists that a UN without US, UK, Australian suppport aint worth much. Posted by: phil_b 2004-10-18 |
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