U.N. May Withdraw Personnel From Iraq

[kskiska]

Annan Move Would Undercut Bush

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 -- Secretary General Kofi Annan is considering withdrawing all U.N. personnel from Iraq in response to two suicide attacks against the international body, a move that would seriously undercut President Bush's efforts to assign the United Nations a broader role in overseeing Iraq's political transition, according to U.S. and U.N. officials.

Annan's top political and security advisers recommended that he shutter the mission because of fears that the United Nations will be targeted by future attacks. But the Bush administration and a delegation from the Iraqi Governing Council have asked Annan to maintain a presence in the region. "The message we tried to carry please do not pull out," Hoshyar Zebari, the council-appointed foreign minister, said after meeting with Annan today. "You have to stay the course and help."

The pullout of the remaining U.N. workers in Baghdad would be a major blow to the Bush administration's campaign to obtain greater international legitimacy for the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq and to attract broader international support for the pacification effort. Pakistan, Turkey and other countries weighing whether to send troops to Iraq have made it clear that they can participate only if the United Nations is granted a more central role.

(snip)

U.N. officials say that Annan could make a final decision as early as Thursday. Fred Eckhard, Annan's spokesman, said the secretary general gave no assurances today to the Iraqi Governing Council delegation, which was led by the group's rotating president, Ahmed Chalabi, that the United Nations would stay.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A60760-2003Sep24.html

[jamesinca]

1. I need Koffi's e-mail

I need to send him my support on this! Pull out Koffi. I want you to. This idiot president has done nothing but spit in your face and the U.N. members nations face. You have offered your help and said what you needed to get in return, he will not meet you half way! Slam the door on him till he puts his ego aside and learns the art of diplomacy and negotiation.

Do you think George said to the U.N. members " Y'all better listen because my dad can beat up your dad" ? Does that thought ever cross his mind? I bet he is dying to say it to somebody.

[NJCher]

2. article says the decision could come today

Annan cannot think of bush's political wellbeing. Enough lives have been sacrificed for this purpose. Annan has to do what is best for his staff and it has been communicated very clearly that they are in danger. He must move the staff out of Iraq for now.


Cher

[Robin Hood]

3. Nice going moron.

Now every death will be laid at bush's feet and all of the little turds that hate the UN and Europe. You did this to us and them. Fucking idiots.

[Mikimouse]

4. Very carefully lifting the lid on the can of worms

I would be very interested in obtaining more information about the bombings of the UN headquarters in Iraq. Who, really, were the bombers? If one considers the hatred that the RW has for the UN, would it not be in the best interests of the 'pukes to be able to denigrate the UN even more? If the UN pulls out of Iraq, one more potential source of oversight is conveniently removed. I smell a rat, and in light of the recent revelations about CIA funding for clerics in the area, I am not sure about the source of the UN bombings. Cynical, for sure, but not without some reason. :evilfrown:

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Isn't this what the BCF really wants

is for the UN to pull out?

It seems this is the one time in W's life that he wants to fail. Then he can silence all the people who were screaming for the UN to take over in Iraq. First they target UN personal, causing Kofi to pull out most of the UN personal weeks ago. Then W goes to the UN pretending that he is seeking a new resolution but doing everything in his power to make sure it doesn't happen. Now the he can go back to the American public and say, well we did our best to get the UN to stand up to the plate and take responsiblity but they refused and have proven that they are irrelevent. Now everybody just go away and leave us alone, another mission accomplished.

[Beetwasher]

6. Biggest Diplomatic Failure in HISTORY!!

Bush has presided over what is, in my opinion, the most incompetent diplomatic effort ever in the history of mankind, from before, during and after the Iraq war, N. Korea, Iran, the war on terror, everything...He practices anti-diplomacy.

[underpants]

7. I thought it was just an "irrelevant debating society"

Why would he have to ask THEM for anything......

Oh yeah there's that whole food thing and that medical treatment thing and that troops thing and that money thing and that.......

[bluedog]

8. bush is an

asshole..that speech really went over well with other nations.....yea, right....now what??? does he even think ahead??? I smell a draft coming....he can count oout military and draft age voters and family to get his f"ing ass elected for the first time!!!all the money in the world isn't going to help this dicksucker!!!!