Article

2004-02-10 International-UN-NGOs

U.N. Work in Iraq Going Well, Annan Says

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Posted by Steve White 2004-02-10 1:50:34 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 As the USA which has a strong democratic tradition believes it detrimental to hold direct elections anytime soon, one can be absolutely certain Kofi will declare, "Direct elections could have and should have been held yesterday. Let's get this show on the road. There will be direct elections in 72 hours. And may our good friends in Iraq's only organized political party -- Saddam's Arab Ba'athist Socialist Party -- achieve a great victory for the UN and Jacque Chiraq. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE--AAAAAAAAAAH!"

Posted by Garrison 2004-2-10 6:29:58 AM|| 2004-2-10 6:29:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Knowing Algeria like I do, I wonder what Brahimi's price tag is? How will we make the deposit and will we be outbid by France and Germany in this "recommendation" market.

Posted by Jack is Back! 2004-2-10 6:47:04 AM|| 2004-2-10 6:47:04 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 LOL Garrison... Perhaps if Kerry wins Dr. Dean will be sent to the UN.

Posted by Shipman 2004-2-10 7:50:26 AM|| 2004-2-10 7:50:26 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Brahimi was the UN rep in Afghanistan, where he did a very good job, praised by the Bush admin. The Bush admin specifically asked that he be the one to go to Baghdad - hes old, and didnt want to go - WE pushed for it.

And why shouldnt the UN be involved - they do have experience organizating elections and reconstructing states. Their success is mixed, to be sure, but this is not an easy task - i wouldnt expect complete success everywhere. The principle reason for opposing UN control was and IS the fear that UN control would come to be manipulated by the UNSC - specifically France and Russia - as long as the UNSC is kept to specific tasks, and we have a hand in the negotiations, and its clear that either elections or caucuses are acceptable to the US and dont advance an anti-US agenda, i see no problem with the UN offering their "good offices"
Am i surprised that the Shia would see the UN as offering better "good offices" than the US? Well yeah, but then its quite possible that they are better than some here at distinguishing between a Brahimi and the manipulators on the UNSC. Its also a fact that Sistani is trying to assuage the minority within the Shia who lean toward al Sadr - and that he himself has weighed the costs and benefits, and sees the UN as useful in gaining cred with the minority that trusts the US less than the UN, and while leaving the US ultimately in charge.

Also dont forget - while we here go on and on about how the UN protected Saddam - the Shia remember 1991 - when they rose up, and almost had Saddam out, if only we would have stopped his helicopters from flying, but we betrayed them, preferring stability and the status quo. They have good reason to distrust us, and to wonder if we arent about to subject them to Sunnis and ex-Baathists again. Indeed, my sense is that there are some folks at Foggy Bottom and Langley who would gladly do so.

Posted by liberalhawk 2004-2-10 9:02:51 AM|| 2004-2-10 9:02:51 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 They have good reason to distrust us, and to wonder if we arent about to subject them to Sunnis and ex-Baathists again. Indeed, my sense is that there are some folks at Foggy Bottom and Langley who would gladly do so.

You left out the DNC.

Posted by Robert Crawford 2004-2-10 9:08:14 AM|| [http://www.kloognome.com] 2004-2-10 9:08:14 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 The DNC is a group of fundraisers, essentially, not a foreign policy organization. I doubt many of them even know clearly who is who in Iraq - unlike State and CIA, who know quite well. Among the Dems Joe would have been more forceful on this than Bush is - but my party doesnt have enough good people to nominate a Joe. Edwards has an advisor out of the Hoover Institute named Larry Diamond, who "gets it" - but theres no guarantee what role he would have in an Edwards admin - which is in any case unlikely. Im not clear who Kerrys advisors are - i am troubled indeed by rhetoric from him indicating deference to the French.

Posted by liberalhawk 2004-2-10 11:13:35 AM|| 2004-2-10 11:13:35 AM|| Front Page Top

#7 U.N. Work in Iraq Going Well, Annan Says

At least until UN personnel are targeted again.

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2004-2-10 11:43:32 AM|| 2004-2-10 11:43:32 AM|| Front Page Top

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