The latest spate of activity on the occupation of Iraq has a look of panic to it. Or, at the very least, a strong whiff of desperation.
I'm very skeptical that this latest UN initiative will go anywhere, for the reasons I mentioned in my previous post.
In practice, any meaningful deal with the UN for more troops would mean that the US would have to agree to maintain the current troop levels - or higher ones - as part of the arrangement. The UN is not going to accept an arrangement under which the US withdraws troops in a risky political situation and just let any subsequent deterioration be "a United Nations failure."
Besides, Bush and Rummy and the hardline hawks just don't intend to give up control of Iraq and its oil. The latest UN initiative looks a lot like a domestic political answer to the current Democratic approach, which blasts Bush for not doing more to involve other nations. In that context, it may be more effective. The Democrats need to keep emphasizing the bogus claims on "weapons of mass destruction" and on Iraq's al-Qaeda ties to give adequate expression to popular discontent over the Iraq War.
The current push to have the hand-picked Iraqi Governing Council assume a more visible role seems of much the same character. It will give the commentators on Fox News an excuse to pretend some constructive action is being taken. But it's doubtful that Iraqis or members of the UN Security Council are likely to have much doubt about who calls the shots for the Iraqi government at this point. Until the occupation authorities can provide reasonable security in Baghdad and other major cities, such schemes are likely to remain mostly media events for the folks back home in America.
- Posted by Bruce Miller 09/03/03
Tags: iraq war
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