The UN is already in Iraq--they just don't have any say about anything

[eridani]

What might happen if we drop the policy of turning Iraq into our permanent military base?

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/unrole/2005/0324qazi.htm

March 24, 2005:
"The UN Special Representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, a former Pakistani diplomat, is busy working on the political process by bringing together parties following January’s historic election. He is also trying to ensure that there is full participation from all sections of society as the newly elected national assembly prepares to construct a new constitution."

<...>
"Q: How will the offices in Basra and Arbil operate under the current security situation?

A: We studied the security situation in Arbil and Basra before we opened our offices in those areas. The security there is better than in other parts of Iraq and for this reason we have established those offices and started to make up our personnel. Our presence there will enable us to cover those areas and make us more visible to the population although we have been very active there. We will now be very active with the local residents and the local NGOs. Our visibility as the UN has not yet been so clear to the local population.

Q: Are there any plans for reopening the old office in Baghdad?

A: Yes, so far we have been using it as a store house. The place will be reopening but it all depends on the security situation in the country. Due to the last tragedy on the UN in 2003 , we had to relocate to inside the international green zone as well as many Iraqi government offices. As the security situation eases, we will have the chance to look at this possibility.

Q: Has the UN's image been tarnished in Iraq due to its absence? How will you change this image?

A: I don’t think our image is bad compared with any other institution; the UN has the best image in Iraq. We were forced to take all of our international staff out of Iraq due to the horrible tragedy in 2003 and I don’t think that there is any misunderstanding about why we left the country at that time. It took a short time for us to come back and we had to keep in mind the security situation to increase our strength here and I think it’s a rational position that has been understood by the population. As well as that, we have been increasing our personnel despite the security situation in Iraq. We deserve a degree of credit for doing all this work under the poor security situation and we are proud to be in Iraq. We will show the Iraqi people that we are by their side. But after the tragedy of 2003, it was very understandable for the UN to relocate to neighbouring countries, but we kept our services running in Iraq. Iraqis will find that the UN has been working consistently even under the most difficult circumstances. "


http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/unindex.htm

"... but in February 2004, under heavy US pressure, the UN agreed to send a mission to the country, to help construct a new interim government. Again, Washington kept the UN’s political role weak, while seeking UN legitimation. After the establishment of an interim government in June, the US pressured the UN to take a larger role in planning national elections, but security dangers and reluctance by the Secretary General and UN staff kept the UN role to a minimum. Only if the US occupation ends, does a substantial UN role now appear likely."


http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/unrole/2005/0411greater.htm

Nearly All Iraqis Seek Greater UN Role in Political Transition, Security Council Told

See also p. 15 of http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N03/642/85/PDF/N0364285.pdf

[opihimoimoi]

1. Soon, the Iraqis ill be asking for citizenshipt by applying to be a State

of the United States, like, the 51st State. That be one hell of a scene.....

Come, we go order the new flags....

[Carolab]

2. Catch 22.

Troops can't go home unless "peacekeepers" are allowed to come in through the UN, NATO, etc. UN, NATO, etc. can't come in because troops are there. This administration is HAPPY to leave the troops in place and NOT have the UN "interfere". The troops are causing the insurgency to continue, and the Iraqis are killing each other off. What's to worry? In time, they figure, everyone will be dead and they can just take over with their puppet government. At this point, it appears that will largely eventually be old "Saddam baathists" any way. Apparently, "we" never had a problem with the baathists, just with Saddam, when he stopped "doing as told".