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Politics : America Under Siege: The End of Innocence -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: calgal who wrote (22527)	3/29/2003 11:17:45 PM
From: calgal	Respond to of 27740

On the humanitarian front URL:http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20030329-87138521.htm A new front opened yesterday in the battle against Saddam Hussein, as allied forces delivered 200 tons of humanitarian supplies to Iraqis from the Umm Qasr seaport, brought in by the British ship Sir Galahad. The progress that coalition forces make in penetrating Iraq to distribute emergency relief will pay dividends, by staving off a humanitarian crisis that would undermine security. As troops press further ahead, Iraqis will see troops risking their lives to save Iraqis. This will help engender the kind of trust that is key to the overall mission. Also yesterday, the administration won a key diplomatic wrangle. The U.N. Security Council voted, as President Bush requested, to resume for 45 days the U.N. oil-for-food program, which was suspended as the war began. In doing so, White House officials rose above the acrimony of recent days to secure the well-being of the Iraqi people. Yesterday, Mr. Bush noted that more than half of Iraqis depend on the program for survival. "This urgent humanitarian issue must not be politicized," he said, "and the Security Council should give Secretary-General Annan the authority to start getting food supplies to those in need of assistance." Just as Mr. Bush demonstrated his ability to move past recent rifts for the benefit of Iraq, the international community should reciprocate. Until Iraq is secured, the coalition forces will likely be the only party on the ground able to deliver supplies to the Iraqis in need. France and Russia have been skeptical of such an approach, but the leaders should, like Mr. Bush, support the actions that best benefit the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, and support the decisions of Mr. Annan. The oil-for-food program was instituted in 1996 to mitigate the effects of U.N. sanctions on Iraq's civilian population. It has provided $26 billion in humanitarian supplies and still has another $10 billion in the pipeline. The United Nations also requested $2.4 billion for food yesterday. Although the Bush administration will likely face tough votes in the Security Council in regards to Iraq, recent developments demonstrate broad willingness to put aside differences to work toward common goals for the people of Iraq. Some media referred to the aid as a mere gesture, failing to recognize the fact that humanitarian work often requires a unique brand of courage and that the troops nonetheless confront threats as they distribute the life-saving supplies.