Help me with material and possibly lives, but you have no say in the way we chose to run the country. It's the same kind of irrational crap from the adminstration. For every day that we go it alone out there, a soldier is likely dead as a result.
Al
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U.S. Faces Uphill Fight on New Iraq Draft
1 hour, 22 minutes ago
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS - A U.S. campaign to get more countries to contribute troops to U.S.-led forces in Iraq (news - web sites) faces an uphill struggle in a U.N. Security Council still bitterly divided over the American decision to launch a war without U.N. approval.
The key objections: Washington's insistence on retaining command of all military activity in Iraq, and its apparent refusal so far to broaden the U.N. mandate calling for the world body to supply humanitarian aid and help rebuild the war-ravaged country.
Since the war to oust Saddam Hussein (news - web sites), U.S. troops have come under constant guerrilla attack. The massive bomb at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad that killed 23 people and wounded at least 100 added to the security woes of the U.S.-British occupation force.
Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) launched the drive for a new U.N. resolution on Thursday, calling on member states "to do more" to help Iraq. U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said later that Washington wants the resolution to encourage countries to provide troops, money and help with police training.
France, which led opposition to the war in Iraq, said that if the United States wants countries to share the military burden of restoring peace to the country, it must share authority.
Expressing concern at the increase in acts of terrorism and sabotage, France's deputy U.N. ambassador Michel Duclos asked whether "we would be in this state" if a genuine international partnership had been established at the outset, with U.N. guidance.
Turkey's top political and military leaders met Friday to consider a U.S. request to deploy thousands of Turkish soldiers in Iraq — a move that could make this predominantly Muslim country the third-largest foreign country in Iraq after the United States and Britain.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told the newspaper Milliyet that Turkey could send peacekeepers to Iraq, but he stressed that soldiers would go to help rebuild the neighboring country and "definitely will not be occupiers."
New Delhi gave no indication of whether it would consider sending forces. "Along with the international community, we are also watching with interest. We will see what happens," said foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna.
Powell reaffirmed the U.S. determination to succeed in Iraq and insisted U.S. leadership provides "competent control" of the coalition force. He stressed that the U.S.-led force in Iraq is multinational already, with 30 nations providing 22,000 troops — 11,000 of them from close ally Britain.
"But perhaps additional language and a new resolution might encourage others," he said.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who is scheduled to meet Annan on Friday morning, echoed the need for a single command, saying: "If you want to be an effective military operation ... then the command has to be through the United States."
France, Russia, India and Germany have ruled out sending soldiers to Iraq unless a multinational force is authorized by the United Nations (news - web sites). Without U.S. agreement to cede some control to the world body, diplomats said the possibility of a robust international force appeared unlikely to attract much new support.
Nevertheless, France and many countries say they've agreed that they want a greater U.N. role in Iraq. "That's the easy part," said Russia's U.N. Ambassador Sergey Lavrov. "How is the more interesting and difficult question."
Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador Munir Akram said Thursday's briefing "started the ball rolling" on a new resolution.
"Everybody wants to help in stabilization," he said, "but it's a question of how we get that additional stabilization" — whether through the coalition force or additional forces."
Spain's U.N. Ambassador Inocencio Arias insisted the United States was interested in giving "a broader mandate" to the United Nations. "The administration has the baton to conduct the orchestra, but they want to give the violins a bigger role than before," Arias said.
Powell first floated the idea of a new resolution to expand the coalition force last month.
If he could win support from Annan and show flexibility on the concerns of key council members, he might be able to convince the White House and Pentagon (news - web sites) that there are ways to maintain U.S. control while giving the international community a bigger role in Iraq.
Annan again ruled out a U.N. peacekeeping force for Iraq but backed a multinational force.
Negroponte said he wouldn't "slam the door" on the possibility of an arrangement like Afghanistan (news - web sites)'s, where the international force in Kabul has broad independence but operates under a U.N. umbrella.
Despite the differing views among council members, Annan said, "I think it is possible to get a consensus."
"This is a moment for a united approach," said Chile's U.N. Ambassador Heraldo Munoz. Referring to the deaths of the U.N. workers in the Baghdad bombing, he added: "It would be a pity if we came out divided after the events of Tuesday." |
