And in one of those less reported stories of the day, this in from the leader of the organization whom the French, Germans, and Russians wanted to put in charge of the rebuilding of Iraq after the war ended. And this is what they've been saying since at least November 18th:
Annan Says Danger In Iraq Is Too Great For U.N. for Now
By Colum Lynch
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 10, 2003; Page A21
UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 9 -- U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said Tuesday that Iraq remains too dangerous for the United Nations to resume a major role in Iraq's reconstruction and political transition anytime soon.
But he pledged to press ahead with plans to expand the United Nations' humanitarian operations in the region, and announced the appointment of Ross Mountain of New Zealand to oversee the United Nations' activities in the weeks ahead. And Annan said U.N. relief agencies would continue to conduct "cross-border operations" into Iraq to deliver essential relief supplies.
Annan's remarks, contained in a 25-page report on the United Nations' future role to be presented to the Security Council on Wednesday, is a setback for the United States. The Bush administration has been pressing the United Nations to return to Iraq since Annan ordered the evacuation of most U.N. staff.
"Under the circumstances, it is difficult to envisage the United Nations operating with a large number of international staff inside Iraq in the near future, unless there is an unexpected and significant improvement in the overall security situation," the report said.
He added: "I have set in motion a process of assembling a core of [about 60 U.N. political and security officers] so that the United Nations can be in a position to move swiftly back to the country if the people seek the Organization's assistance, and circumstances on the ground permit."
Still, Annan outlined political steps and security measures that could be taken to increase the prospects for the United Nations' return to Iraq.
On the political front, Annan urged the United States to broaden Iraqi participation in the political process and to empower Iraqis to make decisions "that will shape the political and economic future" of Iraq. "Political steps of this kind would make it clear that the foreign occupation is short-lived," he wrote.
He also indicated that he would weigh the significance of the emerging United Nations political role in Iraq before sending his staff into harm's way.
"I cannot afford to compromise the security of our international staff," he said. "In taking the difficult decisions that lie ahead, I shall be asking myself questions such as whether the substance of the role allocated to the United Nations is proportionate to the risks we are being asked to take."
Annan cited an internal security review that predicted that the security situation in Iraq was "unlikely to improve in the short to medium term." It also noted that "the United Nations will remain a high-value, high-impact target for terrorist activity in Iraq for the foreseeable future."
The U.N. chief's security plan underscored the degree to which the U.N. leadership is willing to reconsider its aversion to military support for its mission since the Aug. 19 suicide attack on U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, which left 22 dead.
It included a request for additional funds to hire more security experts, train U.N. workers and upgrade the United Nations' plans for ensuring security in its Baghdad facility.
It also contained a demand that the United States and its military allies provide the United Nations with formal assurances that it will receive protection from a "highly mobile" armed force throughout the country, timely intelligence, emergency evacuation support for injured U.N. staff, and the use of coalition facilities if necessary.
"In summary, establishing the necessary security conditions will be a time-consuming and expensive process," he wrote.
Annan, meanwhile, urged the United States and its allies to show restraint -- "even in the face of deliberate and provocative terrorist attacks" -- in the campaign to defeat the armed resistance. He said that "the use of lethal force" should be "proportionate and discriminating. In this case, special care needs to be taken to avoid inflicting casualties on innocent Iraqi civilians."
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