"US agrees to international control of its troops in Iraq"

[weldon_berger]

According to tomorrow's Independent, EU chief Javier Solana says the US "accepts that to avoid humiliating failure in Iraq it needs to bring its forces quickly under international control and speed the handover of power."

The comments, signalling a major policy shift by the US, precede President George Bush's state visit this week to London, during which he and Tony Blair will discuss an exit strategy for forces in Iraq.

Mr Solana underlined the change of mood in Washington, saying: "Everybody has moved, including the United States, because the United States has a real problem and when you have a real problem you need help." There is a "growing consensus" that the transfer of power has to be accelerated, he said. "How fast can it be done? I would say the faster the better."

He added: "The more the international community is incorporated under the international organisations . That is the lesson I think everyone is learning. Our American friends are learning that. We will see in the coming days decisions along these lines."

The article goes on to suggest that NATO may take the lead military role in Iraq if the US is willing to cede sufficient political authority to the UN to satisfy all 19 NATO members.

Can this possibly be true?

[Hieronymus]

1. I trust the source

more than any in the US.

[Paschall]

2. Except, just yesterday Solana...

...was quoted as saying Germany would send troops into Iraq. A statement that was almost immediately refuted by a spokesman for Gerhard Schroeder.

Dunno. And don't know why Solana would feel it appropriate to make this announcement prior to or apart from an announcement by the US. Maybe he's trying to pressure the US into coming forward with details about these "unofficial draft plans" and negotiations.

[weldon_berger]

3. This has been a weird week,

and there's another one shaping up right behind it.

Maybe he thinks that having already executed one 180-degree maneuver with regard to iraq, the US is ripe for another.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. This is Rove for you

but if tehy cannot get ANY international help... I am willing
to take bets, we are going to cut and run..

Bush is in between a hard rock and a hard place

He can keep this mess (and memories of Nam will continue to
come up.. never mind the correct reference is the Great Arab
Revolt of 1920)

He can leave and then give us this great defeat,

It is truly a no win situation for george

And we should have always have gone AFTER the correct target

OBL

[bowens43]

5. He can get international help

IF he goes to the UN and offer to allow UN control of the military force and the rebuilding effort.

[izzie]

6. Is this true? I know Bush has to get this out of his pot.

He will not take the blame for this killing as he has to win in 2004. They are un-loading the US service as fast as they can.How to do it and keep the people happy is a real job.Course big business will keep making money building more war arms for all.How can Iraq start a new country, with all these ex people, who have not been in the country for 25 years setting up a new govt? It is silly.That is also very bad English and I am sorry.