Devildogg4ever
08-22-03, 04:04 AM
By EDITH M. LEDERER
Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- A U.S. campaign to get more countries to contribute troops to the U.S.-led force in Iraq faces an uphill struggle in the U.N. Security Council, which is still bitterly divided over the American decision to launch a war against Saddam Hussein's regime without U.N. approval.
The key objection is Washington's insistence on retaining command of all military activity in Iraq - and its apparent refusal, at least for now, to broaden the U.N. mandate that calls for the world body to supply humanitarian aid and help rebuild the war-ravaged country.
Since the U.S.-led war to oust Saddam Hussein's regime, U.S. troops have come under constant guerrilla attack. The massive bomb at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad that killed 23 people and injured at least 100 others added to the security woes of the U.S.-British occupation force.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell launched the drive for a new U.N. resolution on Thursday, calling on member states "to do more" to help Iraq. U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said later that Washington wants the resolution to encourage countries to provide troops, money and help with police training.
France, which led opposition to the war in Iraq, said that if the United States now wants countries to share the military burden of restoring peace to the country, it must share authority.
Expressing concern at the increase in acts of terrorism and sabotage, France's deputy U.N. ambassador Michel Duclos asked whether "we would be in this state" if a genuine international partnership had been established at the outset, under the guidance of the United Nations.
Powell reaffirmed the U.S. determination to succeed in Iraq and insisted U.S. leadership provides "competent control" of the coalition force. He stressed that the U.S.-led force in Iraq is multinational already, with 30 nations providing 22,000 troops - 11,000 of them from close ally Britain.
"But perhaps additional language and a new resolution might encourage others," he said.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who is scheduled to meet Annan on Friday morning, echoed the need for a single command, saying: "If you want to be an effective military operation ... then the command has to be through the United States."
France, Russia, India and Germany have ruled out sending soldiers to Iraq unless a multinational force is authorized by the United Nations. Without U.S. agreement to cede some control to the world body, diplomats said the possibility of a robust international force appeared unlikely to attract much new support.
Nevertheless, France and many countries say they've agreed that they want a greater U.N. role in Iraq.
"That's the easy part," said Russia's U.N. Ambassador Sergey Lavrov. "How is the more interesting and difficult question."
Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador Munir said Thursday's briefing "started the ball rolling" on a new resolution.
"Everybody wants to help in stabilization," he said, "but it's a question of how we get that additional stabilization" - whether through the coalition force or additional forces.
Spain's U.N. Ambassador Inocencio Arias said he liked 80 percent of the U.S. ideas and 70 percent of the French suggestions - and he insisted the United States was interested in giving "a broader mandate" to the United Nations.
"The administration has the baton to conduct the orchestra, but they want to give the violins a bigger role than before," Arias said.
Powell first floated the idea of a new resolution to expand the coalition force last month.
If he could win support from Annan and show flexibility on the concerns of key council members, he may be able to convince the White House and the Pentagon that there are ways to maintain U.S. control while giving the international community a bigger role in Iraq.
Annan again ruled out a U.N. peacekeeping force for Iraq but backed a multinational force.
Negroponte said he wouldn't "slam the door" on the possibility of an arrangement like Afghanistan's, where the international force in Kabul has broad independence but operates under a U.N. umbrella.
Despite the differing views among council members, Annan said, "I think it is possible to get a consensus."
"This is a moment for a united approach," said Chile's U.N. Ambassador Heraldo Munoz. Referring to the deaths of the U.N. workers in the Baghdad bombing, he added: "It would be a pity if we came out divided after the events of Tuesday."
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_IRAQ?SITE=NCJAC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- A U.S. campaign to get more countries to contribute troops to the U.S.-led force in Iraq faces an uphill struggle in the U.N. Security Council, which is still bitterly divided over the American decision to launch a war against Saddam Hussein's regime without U.N. approval.
The key objection is Washington's insistence on retaining command of all military activity in Iraq - and its apparent refusal, at least for now, to broaden the U.N. mandate that calls for the world body to supply humanitarian aid and help rebuild the war-ravaged country.
Since the U.S.-led war to oust Saddam Hussein's regime, U.S. troops have come under constant guerrilla attack. The massive bomb at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad that killed 23 people and injured at least 100 others added to the security woes of the U.S.-British occupation force.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell launched the drive for a new U.N. resolution on Thursday, calling on member states "to do more" to help Iraq. U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said later that Washington wants the resolution to encourage countries to provide troops, money and help with police training.
France, which led opposition to the war in Iraq, said that if the United States now wants countries to share the military burden of restoring peace to the country, it must share authority.
Expressing concern at the increase in acts of terrorism and sabotage, France's deputy U.N. ambassador Michel Duclos asked whether "we would be in this state" if a genuine international partnership had been established at the outset, under the guidance of the United Nations.
Powell reaffirmed the U.S. determination to succeed in Iraq and insisted U.S. leadership provides "competent control" of the coalition force. He stressed that the U.S.-led force in Iraq is multinational already, with 30 nations providing 22,000 troops - 11,000 of them from close ally Britain.
"But perhaps additional language and a new resolution might encourage others," he said.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who is scheduled to meet Annan on Friday morning, echoed the need for a single command, saying: "If you want to be an effective military operation ... then the command has to be through the United States."
France, Russia, India and Germany have ruled out sending soldiers to Iraq unless a multinational force is authorized by the United Nations. Without U.S. agreement to cede some control to the world body, diplomats said the possibility of a robust international force appeared unlikely to attract much new support.
Nevertheless, France and many countries say they've agreed that they want a greater U.N. role in Iraq.
"That's the easy part," said Russia's U.N. Ambassador Sergey Lavrov. "How is the more interesting and difficult question."
Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador Munir said Thursday's briefing "started the ball rolling" on a new resolution.
"Everybody wants to help in stabilization," he said, "but it's a question of how we get that additional stabilization" - whether through the coalition force or additional forces.
Spain's U.N. Ambassador Inocencio Arias said he liked 80 percent of the U.S. ideas and 70 percent of the French suggestions - and he insisted the United States was interested in giving "a broader mandate" to the United Nations.
"The administration has the baton to conduct the orchestra, but they want to give the violins a bigger role than before," Arias said.
Powell first floated the idea of a new resolution to expand the coalition force last month.
If he could win support from Annan and show flexibility on the concerns of key council members, he may be able to convince the White House and the Pentagon that there are ways to maintain U.S. control while giving the international community a bigger role in Iraq.
Annan again ruled out a U.N. peacekeeping force for Iraq but backed a multinational force.
Negroponte said he wouldn't "slam the door" on the possibility of an arrangement like Afghanistan's, where the international force in Kabul has broad independence but operates under a U.N. umbrella.
Despite the differing views among council members, Annan said, "I think it is possible to get a consensus."
"This is a moment for a united approach," said Chile's U.N. Ambassador Heraldo Munoz. Referring to the deaths of the U.N. workers in the Baghdad bombing, he added: "It would be a pity if we came out divided after the events of Tuesday."
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_IRAQ?SITE=NCJAC&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT