UN's increased role sign of coalition withdrawal from Iraq

Iraq is such a mess the US et al. are happy to dragoon anyone into helping out. I doubt that the UN will or will want to take over the security aspects of the mission and no doubt the US wants to control that on the whole. I just wonder if the UN won't again suffer devastating attacks against its operatives in Iraq.


UN's increasing role in Iraq prelude to early MNF withdrawal –analysts

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 15 /08 /2007 Time 3:30:26




Baghdad, Aug 12, (VOI) – Many Iraqi political analysts and observers described the United Nations' recent resolution to expand its role in Iraq as a maneuver by the U.S. and British governments to "put the ball in the UN's court and pave the way for their troop withdrawal.
The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously approved a US-British resolution calling for a greater UN role in Iraq. The UN has had a low-key presence in Iraq since a truck bomb devastated its Baghdad headquarters in August 2003 and killed its top envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and 21 others.
Under the resolution, the UN is authorized to advise in the review of the Iraqi constitution and help settle disputed internal boundaries. The UN mission will also be asked to promote human rights and help the Iraqi government achieve economic, political, judicial and legal reforms.
MP Janan al-Bereisam from the Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) that the U.S. and British attempts to give the UN a wider mandate in Iraq indicate problems in their ability to deal with Iraqi issues.
Meanwhile, Ismail Zair, the editor-in-chief of the independent al-Sabah al-Jadid newspaper, said that the U.S. and British-backed resolution is a prelude to a U.S. troop pullout from Iraq next year. Urging the Iraqi government and U.S. administration to further cooperation and help the Iraqi army take over security and achieve self-sufficiency, Zair said, "An Iraqi national consensus must be reached to spare Iraqis serious repercussions."
Former Minister of Oil Ibrahim Muhammad Bahr said that the internationalization of the Iraqi issue is categorically rejected by Iraqis. Expressing his hope for the UN to break the political stalemate in the country, Bahr called on the League of Arab States to play an active role in Iraq.
Salman Nouh, the editor-in-chief of the independent liberal al-Ahali newspaper, said that the UN's resolution is an attempt by the U.S. forces to leave Iraq "with the least number of casualties possible." According to Nouh, involving the international community, particularly Iraq's neighboring countries, in the Iraqi issue is meant to pave the way for a U.S. troop withdrawal.
Abu Muhammad, an official from the Basra-based Iraqi Communist Party Organization, believes that the internationalization of the Iraqi issue will add to the complexity of the situation. "The solution should come from inside Iraq. Iraqis can seek international aid from all sources, including the Multi-National Force (MNF), after determining their own destiny," Muhammad said.

SS