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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (9587)	9/27/2003 4:08:18 AM
From: KLP	Respond to of 793717

Breaking: U.S. Agrees to Give U.N. Greater Role in Iraq; Powell Sets Out Timeline for Sovereignty By Edith M. Lederer Associated Press Writer Published: Sep 27, 2003 ap.tbo.com UNITED NATIONS (AP) - U.S. officials have promised to give the United Nations a stronger say in Iraq's elections and its transition to democracy from the one-party rule of Saddam Hussein, an American official said. The announcement on Friday came as Secretary of State Colin Powell set out a timeline for drafting a constitution and electing political leaders in Iraq, possibly in a little more than a year. However, he emphasized it was not a deadline with dire consequences. Syria, a Security Council member that opposed the U.S.-led war and occupation in Iraq, welcomed the tentative timeline, as did Britain and Spain. "I think this is the first public sentence I hear which demonstrates American goodwill with regards to the U.S. presence in Iraq," Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said in an interview from New York with the Lebanese Al Hayat-LBC television station. The United States is trying to secure a new U.N. resolution that will persuade more countries to contribute troops and money to Iraq. France, Germany and several other Security Council nations are doubtful, saying they want Washington to relinquish power quickly and give the United Nations more control. An American official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States has agreed to give the world body a bigger role in the elections and political transformation of Iraq. "We've promised to turn that process over to the U.N. So I think you've seen the United States move quite a bit," the U.S. official said. In his Tuesday speech before the General Assembly, President Bush spoke broadly about a need for global help and outlined a limited role for the United Nations in writing an Iraqi constitution, training civil servants and overseeing elections. Powell met with ministers from the 14 other Security Council nations, and dozens of others concerned about the instability in Iraq - including two bombings at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad in a month. He then returned to Washington late Friday to work on a revised resolution. "Colin Powell told us today ... that he is going back to Washington with a very, very broad set of suggestions, proposals, that he's going to be very serious about that, and then next week (the) American government ... will present a new version of the draft of the resolution," Polish Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz said after Powell met his European Union counterparts. The U.S. official said the timeline suggested by Powell was a response to the French. French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, stopped en route to a meeting at U.N. headquarters, refused to answer a question seeking his reaction. Germany said Powell's idea would have to flow into negotiations on the new resolution, but refused to categorize it in any way. Germany's stand, expressed repeatedly by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, remains that there should be a return to Iraqi sovereignty as soon as possible, but with a "realistic" timeline, Foreign Ministry spokesman Walter Lindner said in Berlin. Britain endorsed Powell's statement. "We are committed to elections during the course of next year, and hope this fits in with that," a Foreign Office spokesman in London said on condition of anonymity. Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio also told The Associated Press she was encouraged. "I think that we need a timetable," she said. "This would be a good sign for the Iraqi people and for the international public opinion - that the process is there, that the full exercise of sovereignty by the Iraqi people is on its way after so many decades of a brutal government." Powell said the timeline was part of a plan outlined by the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, to give power back to the Iraqis. "Six months seems to be a good timeline to put out there for the creation of this constitution, and also to give a sense of momentum and purpose to the effort of moving toward full restoration of authority over Iraq to the Iraqi people," Powell said after a high-level meeting concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "If it's possible to meet that goal of finishing the constitutional work in six months, then it is quite appropriate to consider that shortly thereafter the people would be able to ratify such a constitution and prepare for elections. "Some people say it would be another six months for elections, but we really can't be precise about it." Bremer told a Pentagon news conference that a preparatory committee named by the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council will produce a report Tuesday detailing how to proceed with a constitutional convention. However, it is unclear when the writing of the constitution will begin. Responding to a question, Powell said, "The six months we anticipate would begin with the formation of the constitutional group and the beginning of their work." AP-ES-09-27-03 0319EDT

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (9587)	9/27/2003 5:49:05 AM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793717

I got the impression of a private persona quite different from his public/academic persona. You noticed the way Hitchens danced around in that tribute to him. Didn't want to speak ill of the dead. I was astonished at the depth of dislike for him in this country. I have read many bitter articles about him today. There is no doubt that he was the Fountainhead for the destruction of the Mid East Departments in our colleges over the last 20 years. They are now in the hands of left wing radicals and/or Arab immigrants. And a large number of students have the same BG. Wait until the outcry hits when the FBI comes up with terrorist supporters among these student groups. I have no doubt they are there.