UN chief seeks more time for Iraq return

[DuctapeFatwa]

United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan says he needs more time before committing to a return to Iraq.

The United States and members of Iraq's Governing Council have promised to provide security for UN employees. However, Mr Annan says he wants more information.

"We have agreed that further discussions should take place at the technical level which would be focused on the most immediate electoral and security issues," he said.

"On the basis of those discussions I would be in a better position to take decisions about what the UN can do to help, particularly regarding the possible dispatch of a mission to Iraq to advise on elections."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1028088.htm

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Who can blame him

In more sane times, what happened to those UN workers in Iraq would have been considered an all-time shocking never-to-be-forgotten event.
However because of the chaos and madness that reigns there now, the loss is just business as usual. Annan understands this.

[pacifictiger]

2. I hope he strings things along for a while.

I presume he's smart enough to know that to give Bush instant victory would be to give him election year kudos, and thus permission to return to total arrogance, which I'm sure he knows is REALLY bad for the world as a whole. He also knows the situation still needs time to stabilize and a so status quo for a while longer would probably be a good thing for the bigger picture.

[leftchick]

3. Excellent Article from the Guardian about Iraqi Elections

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1126040,00.html

Why the US is Running Scared of Elections in Iraq


<Annan should resist the poisoned chalice. He should support the concept of direct elections. It need not mean a delay in sovereignty for Iraq. Five months are not too long to prepare a vote. Alternatively, the UN should offer to take over responsibility for the entire transition to Iraqi rule, as many member governments originally hoped.

Washington's plan for a transfer of power is a facade. The real intent is to get Bush re-elected and continue the occupation by indirect means. The UN should have no part of it. >