NYT: Talks by U.N. Fail to Break Impasse on Iraq Self-Rule

[kskiska]

GENEVA, Sept. 13 — The United States and other leading nations on the Security Council held intensive discussions over the future governance of Iraq today but failed to break the impasse over France's insistence that Iraq's transition to self-rule be overseen by the United Nations rather than the American occupation.

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, who arrived here early this morning, met with his counterparts from other nations and with Adnan Pachachi, a former Iraqi foreign minister who serves on the Iraqi Governing Council, which was appointed by the American-led occupation.

The State Department announced today that Mr. Powell would travel to Kuwait and Iraq on Sunday "to see firsthand the progress being made by the international community and by the Iraqi people in rebuilding their nation and society from 30 years of Saddam Hussein's destructive rule."

The secretary's visit to Iraq had been kept secret for security reasons. His itinerary was not disclosed, but it was apparent that Mr. Powell was hoping that, with his first visit there, he could report that progress was being made toward Iraqi self-government under the timetable established in Washington.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/14/international/middleeast/14DIPL.html?hp

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[w4rma]

7. It's not only the French. It's most of the UN that refuses to go in under

US command. This article is misleading in focusing on the French. The Germans, the Russians, the French and others all refuse to go in under US command.

Also, Bush is doing himself in quite well. The French and the Germans and the Russians are looking after their own interests and Bush's diplomatic skills are the worst of anyone whose ever lived in the White House.

[aquart]

2. Tomorrow I buy Perrier. And French cheese.

I don't know what kind of cheese it will be, but it will be French.

[fabius]

5. I recommend the Brie.

If it's really French, it's really excellent. Not like the pale shadow of American-made brie-like cheese. Also the Blanc des Blancs to go with.

[sushi]

3. * should be glad

he still has Colin Powell in his adminstration. CP is the moderate one, suitable to send around to represent the US in talks. The others are not liked in many countries.

[fabius]

4. Old Europe to Powell: Merde!

Powell: So, you cheese-eating surrender monkeys and wimpy pacifist yellow Krauts. Time to step up to the plate with zillions of dollars and thousands of troops to meet your responsibilities.

Schroeder: Scheiss!

Chirac: Merde!

Powell: No, seriously, guys...

Question: why does this misadministration always telegraph their rigid negotiating stances to the press before they talk to the other party, instead of keeping quiet and twisting arms in the back room, like W's Pa did? Its' almost like they wanted to make sure diplomacy failed...

Oh. Never mind.

[Paschall]

6. Excuse me, but what is this double-talk?

"...it was apparent that Mr. Powell was hoping that, with his first visit there, he could report that progress was being made toward Iraqi self-government under the timetable established in Washington."

What timetable established in Washington?!? Has anyone seen this? I thought the Washington "timetable" was a total gray zone ("as quickly as possible," blah blah blah).

"Mr. Powell said the American proposal to have the 25-member Iraqi Governing Council report back to the Security Council on its own timetable for self-government had 'received positive responses from everyone.'"

Oh, the Iraqi Governing Council's timetable is Washington's timetable?!?

Can someone please explain?

[w4rma]

8. Explanation: NYT is covering for chimpy to help protect his poll #s (n/t)

[aneerkoinos]

9. In fact

Iraqi counsil supports the French timetable, they want elections in mid 2004.

The obvious problem for US is that giving any clear timetable US looses it's best leverage to secure (distort) permanent military presence in Iraq. After being forced to leave SA, it is essential to have bases in Iraq, otherways they are left with only Israel, Kuwait and nano Countries of the Gulf are not much and maintaining bases there might prove to be very difficult with truly independent Iraq, Euro-Turkey, hostile Iran and unstable SA.