Juan Cole: Bringing the United Nations Back In (to Iraq)

[Wordie]

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Bringing the United Nations Back In

...I think it is time to demand a timetable for US withdrawal from Iraq. I suspect a majority of Iraqi parliamentarians want that. The Sunni Arabs demand it. The Sadrists demand it. It is time. Saying that the guerrillas would take advantage of a timetable, given the carnage we saw on Monday (see below) is frankly silly. They are taking advantage of the current situation. We have to create a new situation, with which they might be happier so that they stop blowing things up. Staying this course is untenable.

...I think the peace movement has a real opportunity here to make a push for much heavier United Nations involvement in Iraq. I say, let's make up placards calling on Kofi Annan to get involved, and calling on Bush to let the UN come in in a big way, with proper protection.

Here are the advantages:

1. The United Nations has political legitimacy in the Middle East. American unilateralism does not. The guerrillas would be humiliated to deal with Bush, who crushed them and marginalized them. They would be more likely to treat with the UN.

2. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has demanded greater UN involvement, and he has enormous authority with the Shiite majority.

http://www.juancole.com/2006/02/bringing-united-nations-back-in-there.html

Sadly, due to the four-paragraph limit, I'm unable to post the other four reasons that Juan Cole lists as advantages to the idea of bringing in the UN to help keep peace in Iraq. Please follow the link to read them, as they are worth it. Of course, there's always Bolton to worry about, so the plan might be difficult to execute, but it certainly is worth considering.

[Wordie]

1. Self kick

This seems an important and interesting proposal by a well-known ME expert. I'm giving it a kick - just in case anyone would like to take a look...