Bush may turn to UN in search for Iraq solution (ANOTHER PLAN B)

[grytpype]

Source: Guardian Unlimited

Bush may turn to UN in search for Iraq solution


If troop surge fails, strategy is to involve other nations under UN umbrella

Simon Tisdall
Wednesday May 23, 2007
The Guardian

The Bush administration is developing plans to "internationalise" the Iraq crisis, including an expanded role for the United Nations, as a way of reducing overall US responsibility for Iraq's future and limiting domestic political fallout from the war as the 2008 election season approaches.

The move comes amid rising concern in Washington that President George Bush's controversial Baghdad security surge, led by the US commander, General David Petraeus, is not working and that Iran is winning the clandestine battle for control of Iraq.

"Petraeus is brilliant. But he is the captain of a sinking ship," said a former senior administration official who questioned whether Iraq's divided political leadership could prevent a descent into chaos. "Iraq's government is a mobile phone number that doesn't answer. Iraq probably can't be fixed."

...

The former official, who is familiar with administration thinking, predicted Mr Bush would instead ask Congress to agree a six-month extension of the surge after Gen Petraeus presented his "progress report" in early September.

...

Mr Bush will sweeten the pill by pursuing a series of steps intended to "hand off" many current US responsibilities to the international community, the former official said. The president would try simultaneously to placate congressional and public opinion by indicating willingness to talk about a future troop "drawdown".

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2085981,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

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This has to be, like the FIFTH Plan B I've heard this week!

And why do they think the UN can take over Iraq? That will be as big as disaster as the current occupation!

[acmavm]

1. Oh brother! Does anyone believe that the UN will just jump in and pull

bush**s nuts out of the fire?

I don't.

[greenbriar]

2. If the UN could I wish they would say "told ya so"

nannie nannie boo boo

stick your head in doo doo

[azurnoir]

3. The UN should agree to help with Iraq

provided that they are allowed to nationalize their oil, no foreign (American) oil companies.

[peacebird]

4. UN will not take over this tar baby. it's *'s legacy.

[rubberducky]

5. Somehow, I don`t see the UN riding in to save his ass.

The UN was against this mess and I really can`t see them wanting any part of this. But, it would be interesting to see bush beg for thier help.

[ohio2007]

6. The UN has about 29 missions around the world already

Where are they going to find troops let alone enough blue helmits ?
Didn't the UN leave Baghdad in May 2003 after a bomb blast ?

canary in a coal mine....

[kysrsoze]

27. Is this the same UN in which he installed a representative who wanted it dismantled?

Just checking.

[PassingFair]

7. I hope the UN DOES help though.

They are Iraq's only hope.

Better late than never, and nationalize the oil to
help the people and kick our ASSES OUT.

[Botany]

8. this says it all

"Petraeus is brilliant. But he is the captain of a sinking ship," said a former senior administration official
who questioned whether Iraq's divided political leadership could prevent a descent into chaos. "Iraq's
government is a mobile phone number that doesn't answer. Iraq probably can't be fixed."

[FightingIrish]

9. That sounds like the Kerry Plan

which might have worked three years ago.

[TwilightGardener]

10. My Senator (Hagel) called for this recently on the Senate floor--did he

know they were planning this already, and now can take some credit for the idea, or are they listening to him, which is scarier? I give Kerry credit for coming up with this.

[bwdrff55]

11. Of course they will help

After all, Bush did wait for their decision to invade. And, he patiently waited for the inspectors to find the WMDs. He tried to use political strategies first, just like they suggested, as well. Yes, he is a well respected man at the U.N. and by most other leaders of the world. Anyone have any use for some bottom-land I'm selling?:loveya:

[karlrschneider]

20. Excellent sarcasm! Welcome to DU

:toast:

[calimary]

28. Welcome to DU! That'd be funny if it weren't true.

And btw, didn't he ALREADY GO to the UN to urge the international community to step in - not terribly long ago? And they loved him then, too. :sarcasm:

Glad you're here! Now get to work.

[cliss]

31. Welcome, bwdrff55

to the DU! :smoke:

[BrotherBuzz]

12. Iraq's government is a mobile phone number that doesn't answer

Just who is this unnamed former senior administration official?

[Cronopio]

13. HA!!!

After Blair leaves office, Bush will have NO political allies outside of his little, well-ensconced circle of criminals - in the UN or anywhere else on the planet.

What a minute, there *is* the DLC.

[BootinUp]

19. He is playing this card to get Britain's PM

to work with him. Bush couldn't build a serious UN effort, just a case of hemorrhoids.

[dweller]

14. pay your dues *bucko

what outstanding dues are owed by the US to the UN?

once again, Kucinich had this plan proposed. http://kucinich.us/iraqplan

good luck.
dp

[RamboLiberal]

15. Bush may turn to UN in search for Iraq solution

Source: Dupe - Self Delete

The Bush administration is developing plans to "internationalise" the Iraq crisis, including an expanded role for the United Nations, as a way of reducing overall US responsibility for Iraq's future and limiting domestic political fallout from the war as the 2008 election season approaches.

The move comes amid rising concern in Washington that President George Bush's controversial Baghdad security surge, led by the US commander, General David Petraeus, is not working and that Iran is winning the clandestine battle for control of Iraq.

"Petraeus is brilliant. But he is the captain of a sinking ship," said a former senior administration official who questioned whether Iraq's divided political leadership could prevent a descent into chaos. "Iraq's government is a mobile phone number that doesn't answer. Iraq probably can't be fixed."

Although sectarian killings have fallen in Baghdad since the surge began in February, the level of violence across the country remains broadly unchanged. But the White House is fiercely resisting calls from Democrats and some Republicans to scrap the operation and set a timetable for a troop withdrawal.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2085981,00.html

[cliss]

16. Guess what?

We're broke. That's the only answer to this scenario. Cuz we'd most certainly be 'status quo' if there was enough dough to keep going. That's what they want, the PNAC. Iraq was only bus stop #37 in a long line of countries to take over.

Our Chinese bankers must have told us "The credit line's been cut off, Baby".

[BootinUp]

17. No one is going to help Bush

This is a political ploy with no hope in reality.

[Posteritatis]

18. Oh, *now* he comes to the UN... (nt)

[jwirr]

21. The last time he did that they told him that they would only go in if

they were given leadership of our troops - he turned them down.

[jpgray]

22. We're full circle now

:rofl:

[HuffleClaw]

23. so, yet again 'plan b' is an ooooold idea of the democrats?

and an idea which has loooong since been past its 'best before' date. no way the un is gonna play bush's game now.

[grytpype]

24. The UN doesn't even operate in Iraq any more!

The UN pulled out of Iraq after their headquarters got bombed and their representative got killed!

How are they supposed to take over any functions in Iraq?

Did they talk to anyone at the UN about this? Probably not, there are going to be some very surprised looking people at the UN tomorrow morning!

[LynnTheDem]

25. ROTFLMAO!!!

Good luck with that, bush.

See, other nations aren't stupid enough -nor are their populations- to get Iraqmired. See.

George W. bUsh; truly the stupidest rightwingnut MFer. Ever.

[John Q. Citizen]

26. Is bush embracing the Kucinich plan, HR 1234? Ha ha ha. Dennis can pull it off

but bush has zero credibility.

[muriel_volestrangler]

29. Comment from the Iraqi Foreign Minister

And as if acting on cue, another US ally, President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, last week proposed the creation of a UN-flagged peacekeeping force for Iraq to be drawn from Muslim nations. The idea, floated during a summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, was rejected by Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari. He complained of too many foreign soldiers in his country already.

And if that's the reaction of a politician in the government, an awful lot of Iraqis will probably feel the same way, or even stronger. A multi-national force from Muslim countries, or non-Muslim ones which didn't have their eyes on the oil, might have been able to do something if they came in from April 2003. Now, I can't see any foreign soldier getting a warm welcome in Iraq. Bush has comprehensively screwed the country.

[Vinca]

30. It's the end game for Shrub. He'll try anything to spruce up the history

books. It's getting close to the time one of Poppy's cohorts will need to show up to bail him out.

[arewenotdemo]

32. Indeed. The Cheerleader is frantically searching for

one last Golden Parachute.

[NastyRiffraff]

33. Typical Bush

1. He makes a mess
2. He (or daddy) begs for help cleaning it up
3. The helper gets the blame for the mess.

The U.N. would be nuts if they accept this.