abyssmal failure in iraq

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 9:49am

as seen by kofi annan

There's Progress in Iraq

By Kofi Annan

Washington Post

Tuesday, June 21, 2005; Page A21

Today I am traveling to Brussels to join representatives of more than 80 governments and institutions in sending a loud and clear message of support for the political transition in Iraq.

A year ago, in Resolution 1546, the U.N. Security Council set out the timetable that Iraq, with the assistance of the United Nations and the international community, was expected to fulfill. The Brussels conference is a chance to reassure the Iraqi people that the international community stands with them in their brave efforts to rebuild their country, and that we recognize how much progress has been made in the face of daunting challenges.

Elections were held in January, on schedule. Three months later the Transitional National Assembly endorsed the transitional government. The dominant parties have begun inclusive negotiations, in which outreach to Sunni Arabs is a major theme. A large number of Sunni groups and parties are now working to make sure that their voices are fully heard in the process of drafting a new constitution, and that they participate fully in the referendum to approve it and the elections slated for December.

Indeed, just last week an agreement was achieved to expand the committee drafting the constitution to ensure full participation by the Sunni Arab community. This agreement, which the United Nations helped to facilitate, should encourage all Iraqis to press ahead with the drafting of the constitution by the Aug. 15 deadline.

As the process moves forward, there will no doubt be frustrating delays and difficult setbacks. But let us not lose sight of the fact that all over Iraq today, Iraqis are debating nearly every aspect of their political future.

The United Nations has been strongly urged by a wide spectrum of Iraqis to help them maintain momentum, as we did with January's elections. They have sought our support in constitution-making, in preparing for the October referendum and the December elections, and in coordinating donor assistance for the political transition as well as reconstruction and development.

Our response has been prompt and resolute. We have set up a donor coordination mechanism in Baghdad, deployed a Constitutional Support Unit, and established an active and collaborative relationship with the assembly's constitutional committee. Today more than 800 U.N. personnel -- both local and international, including security staff -- are serving in Iraq in the U.N. assistance mission.

In a media-hungry age, visibility is often regarded as proof of success. But this does not necessarily hold true in Iraq. Even when, as with last week's agreement, the results of our efforts are easily seen by all, the efforts themselves must be undertaken quietly and away from the cameras.

Whether U.N. assistance proves effective will depend largely on the Iraqis. Only they can write a constitution that is inclusive and fair. The United Nations cannot and will not draft it for them. Nor do we need to, because Iraqis are more than capable of doing it themselves. They would welcome advice, but they will decide which advice is worth taking.

As important as particular constitutional provisions is the underlying accommodation between Iraq's diverse communities. My special representative, Ashraf Qazi, is encouraging and facilitating the delicate task of political outreach to all Iraqi communities to promote a truly inclusive transition. His work, too, is necessarily carried out away from the media glare, as he seeks to build the trust and confidence among the various constituencies that will be the key to the successful transition envisaged by Security Council Resolution 1546.

There are, of course, those who wish to exacerbate communal tensions and prevent the emergence of a democratic, pluralist, stable Iraq. They seek to capitalize on the serious difficulties faced by ordinary people, and to exploit popular anger and resentment to promote hatred and violence. Their work is seen on the streets of Iraq every day.

I do not believe that security measures alone can provide a sufficient response to this situation. For such measures to be successful, they must be part of a broad-based and inclusive strategy that embraces the political transition, development, human rights and institution-building, so that all of Iraq's communities see that they stand to be winners in the new Iraq. These efforts must be underpinned by steps to deal with Iraq's tortured past -- a past that still exacts revenge and will, if not addressed, blight future generations. This is difficult for any society in transition, let alone one as dangerous as some areas of Iraq are today.

In aid of the transition, the United Nations is at work, both inside and outside the country, to support donor coordination, capacity-building of Iraqi ministries and civil society organizations, and delivery of basic services. Reconstruction of schools, water-treatment and waste-treatment plants, power plants and transmission lines, food assistance to children, mine clearing and aid to hundreds of thousands of returning refugees and internally displaced persons -- all of these activities occur every day in Iraq under U.N. leadership.

The Iraqi people continue to endure a painful and difficult transition, and they still have a long and tough road ahead. The United Nations is privileged and determined to walk it with them. In doing so, we serve not only the people of Iraq, but the peoples of all nations.

The writer is secretary general of the United Nations.

Posted: 6/22/05 at 10:17am

Wow! Bush is actively working to smear Anan and appoint a UN Ambassador that holds the UN in contempt, and yet Anan takes time out to issue these kind words on what Bush has achieved in Iraq. No wonder he is the head of a diplomatic organization.

Kudos all around.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 10:28am

Posted: 6/22/05 at 10:46am

papa - quite honestly, the effect I get from that is that the UN has stepped into a situation that was created outside of their control, but that obviously needed to be dealt with. It has become woefully obvious that, whatever the true intentions of the invasion were, the aftermath got some short shrift in the US planning department.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 10:47am

Shrewd move on beleagured Anan's part, to see (or at least portray) the glass half full. As JoeK says, it's certainly a tribute to diplomacy.

But Papa's use of the words "abyssmal failure," employing irony to nail those of us who opposed this war, and supposedly root for a tragic loss, invites a bigger discussion. This "pre-emptive" war -- to avoid "a mushroom cloud" -- was sold to the world based on lies, and devoid of any post-conflict planning. It was never presented to our electorate as an opportunity to offer independence; we were told it was as last-ditch option, after all peaceful means had been exhausted, designed to spare America an insideous attack by Saddam Hussein. After bait and switch, post no WMD, it became a nation-building exercise in planting freedom, waiting for it to flower. No one wants anything but a happy resolution for this traumatized country. But who really thinks it has given the US intentions abroad more credibility on the world stage, or made us safer between our own borders? Papa, no doubt. Call me a cynic, but I don't think so.

As for Joey's chart, how do we explain the consistent failure (my word here--but even Republicans use it) of recruitment efforts for the US? Those who voted for the war via a vote for Bush are going on record as being opposed to sending their own family into the service to "spread freedom." We may put our money where our mouths are -- indeed, countless billions -- but we don't want to put OUR children there.

Updated On: 6/22/05 at 10:47 AM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 10:47am

d, i wouldn't expect you to see it any other way.

Posted: 6/22/05 at 11:28am

Perhaps GW will take a lesson from Kofi Anan and take a moment to apologise to Bill Clinton and Al Gore; On the campaign trail (and at least one of the debates) Candidate Bush stressed that his biggest problem with Bill Clinton's foreign policy was his faith in "Nation Building" which GW stressed his army would NEVER be involved in. Of course, President Bush will go down in history as being responsible for the biggest sttempt at Nation Building ever. As Bart Simpson is fond of saying "The ironing is delicious!"

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 1:05pm

I love Republicans using the UN, which they supposedly hate and have no faith in, as a sudden credential for the success of their leader's war in Iraq.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 1:11pm

bway, it's like the way democrats hold up anyone who disagrees with gw, like last years sudden rush to embrace tom clancy. kinda funny, huh?

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 1:39pm

I didn't embrace him.
Just like I'm not rushing to believe anything coming out of Kofi's mouth about Iraq right now.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 2:38pm

Poor Kofi. He's really feeling the heat. He knows Bolton is gonna kick his tush and he has to make it look like he's doing something.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 2:41pm

YAY! I'm so excited by the prospect of furthering the world's view of America as a bully by having our own dogma-pandering president push that Wild Bill Hickock-looking freak of a wifebeater into the UN. That's just what we need.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 2:46pm

But BWS, he is the "best" man for the job - just like Clarence Thomas was the best nominee for our esteemed Court.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 2:46pm

Look! It's Mindy Cohn!

Updated On: 6/22/05 at 02:46 PM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 2:48pm

All I see is Tripod.

How frightening to see the Republican party submit to their president in such a way as to stifle all dissent. But thank god people are opening their eyes to this ridiculous administration.
They keep pandering for this up or down vote and keep getting their hands slapped away from the cookie jar.
So, rather than compromise, they're going to keep making little whiny noises in the media and then appoint him during the Senate recess.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/05 at 3:01pm

I'm confused by the subject line: is it "abysmal" (with one "s") or "abyss-like"?

Or is it maybe the Yiddish word for "little": "a bissle failure"?

Nu?