BBC BREAKING: UN ANNOUNCES IRAQ PULL-OUT

[gp]

UN cuts staff in Iraq

The United Nations says it is cutting back its operations in Iraq amid a deteriorating security situation in the country.
"Today there remain 42 in Baghdad and 44 in the north of the country, and those numbers can be expected to shrink over the next few days," said a spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

"This is not an evacuation, just a further downsizing, and the security situation in the country remains under constant review," he said.

Officials said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had earlier received a recommendation that all international UN staff should be pulled back and based temporarily in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

Most heads of UN agencies were said to have supported the move.

Officials stressed the decision had been taken purely on security grounds, following the second bomb attack near the UN headquarters in Baghdad on Monday this week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/middle_east/3140184.stm

The headline i used for this thread was the one bbc used when the news broke. the bbc link says 'cutting staff' but when u read the article they basically decided the pull all UN staff out over the next few days and base them in Amman. The UN source is downplaying this as to minimize the political fallout.

[hang a left]

1. Well I can't blame them. I feel so sorry for our soldiers

and the Iraqis.

[Ashcroft Kutcher]

2. Another victory for terrorist

Poor iraqi Shmoos

[Skittles]

112. another disaster courtesy of Bush Inc

would be a better way to describe it

[Cappurr]

3. Oh my God

This is Big. Really Big.

[cherryperry]

8. Damn Straight!

This is HUGE!

The so-called UN in their usual so-called 'protector'/'judge' of the world mode!!!!!

[WillParkinson]

57. Sorry CherryPerry...

Why SHOULD they stay? Bush has made it very clear that we only want their money and NOT their help.

I feel for the soliders and their families as well as the people of Iraq but Bush was the one who waded in with guns blazing wanting to conquer the hearts and minds of the public and now he's reaping the wild winds.

[cherryperry]

85. i know...

:cry:

[wryter2000]

4. OMG!

Why can't we get the BBC? I have news radio on here, and they're talking about freeway congestion. Please keep us up-to-date.

[Ashcroft Kutcher]

11. Talk Radio Blues

When the war was just begining, it was full throttle coverage. Now that there is actually something to talk about, the right wing talk show hosts discuss anything but Iraq.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. there is an internet feed

go to http://www.bbc.co.uk and look for "launch radio player". Radio 4 has a news program on now, which just had the itme on the UN (there's normally a few minutes delay, but it's probably too late by now).

[Ashcroft Kutcher]

26. Hey Thanks

I just got work provided speakers for my computer.

[Demobrat]

5. This just makes me want to weep.

Our poor soldiers.

[underpants]

16. A chill just went up my spine.

I haven't had one of those since they alerted us and told us the first Gulf War had started.

[a_random_joel]

6. Links?

Please help a cube rat...

[MoonAndSun]

10. I have been checking the BBC onine and no updates on this

story yet. Also checked yahoo and nothing there. Will keep looking.

[_NorCal_D_]

7. Oh boy,

this can't be good...

Way to go Bush! You really convinced them!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

29. That's the critical point.

Talk about piehole effects!

[Rose Siding]

9. Just after Jr's speech

Now what?

[Ouabache]

66. Junior Speaks - Opec reduces oil production - UN announces reduction

Ummh-huuh. That UN speech went over so well.

Tuesday, Junior's diatribe and he walks out of the UN
Wednesday, OPEC announces reductions of oil output, (prices going up!)
Thursday, UN announces further REDUCTIONs in Iraq personnel.

Sort of a Trifecta all over again, huh?

[mpsteve]

12. Isn't that opposite of what Bush wanted? What am I missing?

[booksenkatz]

13. Speechless

I don't know what to say. I've got a conservative soccer mommy in my neighborhood who is thrilled because she hates the UN and yet her brother is in Iraq. I can't understand these people. It's like their lives are so meaningless that they WANT to lose a brother in Iraq to make themselves feel important...?

What's next, kiddies? Any ideas? Apart from kicking the sockpuppet's ass out of the White House in November 2004. What the hell are we going to do in the meantime?

[Dhalgren]

91. Start flying

C130's outta there loaded with troops for home! Start today! The Iraqis are grown-ups with a 6000 year history - they'll figure it out. Once all of our soldiers are home, then start paying as high a rate of reparations as we can afford to the Iraqi people. Support whatever kind of aid and relief that the UN decides is right. STOP THIS NOW!!!

[underpants]

14. Um yeah george can you hold this BAG?

W:Hey were are you guys going?

[soleft]

15. me thinks the UN wants a regime change in the US

Cause this is baaaaaaaaaaad for *

[jumptheshadow]

110. You see it that way, I see it that way...

But will the media cheerleaders make the connection? Will middle America make the connection? Damn. We have to go through 15 more months of this regime?

[onehandle]

18. Now we own Iraq free and clear....

The Bush regime doesn't like witnesses anyway.

Just ask Saddams' sons.

USA! USA! USA!

[_NorCal_D_]

19. On CNN now.

eom

[underpants]

20. Rice: Others Will Contribute in Iraq

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/Politics/GMA030925RiceIntvu.html

[Tinoire]

23. huh? Let's hope they don't start a draft!

ABCNEWS' DIANE SAWYER: There is a report this morning that unless other countries, foreign countries, supply 15,000 to 20,000 troops in the next six weeks, that Americans will have to be called up. Some 10,000 of them will have to be called up. Are you going to get those additional troops?

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER CONDOLEEZZA RICE: Well, we're making preparations to be certain that the force levels are appropriate. As the president said, the most important thing is to get this job done. But we are working with other countries, working on the United Nations resolution. We will see if we can get further troop contributions. The most important thing is to do this job and do it well.



I smell a DRAFT coming!

[reprobate]

56. There MUST be a draft. And that will be the end of the neocons.

We now have, what, 75% of our active duty troops in the area. They will have to call up a division of reserves and NG to allow for rotation stateside. But that won't last long. As the attacks continue it will require more troops.

The only way to get them is to start the draft. And they will have to do it soon, cause it takes time to train them. You don't take kids off the streets and hand them an M16 and tell them to go kill people. It don't work that way. You have to teach them to kill. I'm just guessing but I'd think it would take 4-6 months before you have a combat ready division. And on top of that, you'd have to seed it with at least a third of combat veterans, cause you cant send a division of rookies in alone. They must have leaders.

Hopefully we will see a real blowback from the citizens by that time. I'm thinking a two million citizen march on D.C. with the intent of riding the administration out on a rail, after a good tar and feathering. (Just joking, my friends at HSA).

[lindashaw]

77. I'd say the UN resolution is highly speculative at this point.

[Guaranteed]

99. LOL!! good point n/t

[Zhade]

94. I fucking DARE those assholes to try to draft us.

It will be the worst mistake they ever made.

[cherryperry]

111. Seriously,

I've smelled a draft 'blowing in the wind' for a while now, so I find your post to be quite a relief at the thought of their possibly trying to ever put this one over on us again ...





(edited for typo, not for content)

[Karen01]

25. BBC link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3140184.stm

[Tinoire]

21. This is the latest story I found

Annan Weighs Whether to Pull UN Staff Out of Iraq

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) called in top aides on Thursday to consider whether all international staff should be pulled out of Iraq (news - web sites) until their safety can be assured, U.N. sources said.


A decision to pull back international staff, even temporarily, would be a blow to U.S. claims the security situation in Iraq was under control and would undermine efforts by President Bush (news - web sites) to give the world body a bigger say in Iraqi reconstruction than it now has.


<snip>

"It would be a temporary pullback if they decide. It would not be the U.N. withdrawing for good. It would probably pull international staff from Baghdad back to Amman," said this diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.


"The implications would be serious obviously -- there's no question about that. How serious would depend on how long it lasted," the envoy said.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&ncid=578&e=2&u=/nm/20030925/ts_nm/iraq_un_staff_dc

[The Magistrate]

30. This Is Excellent News, Ma'am

The principle "The worse, the better!" is not normally congenial to me, but this is one case where it is appropriate beyond doubt: the worse the situation in Iraq, the better for the prospects of evicting the criminals of the '00 Coup from power in our country.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[trogdor]

49. Except there are real Americans in Iraq.

Are they expendable? I think not!

Although I believe in assigning the blame where it belongs - at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., I feel genuinely sorry for the troops in Iraq, and fearful that I, a Reservist, might be called to join them (doing what, I have no idea). I am also fearful for my son, who is now 14, and will be of draft age during the next Presidential term.

You can see the sense of urgency that we do whatever we have to do to send George W. Bush back to Texas. The idea of four term-limited years of GWB makes me cringe. WE CANNOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. PERIOD!

So, pick a candidate, support him or her to the extent of your ability, and let's get busy kicking this clown out of office.

[The Magistrate]

54. It Is Unfortunate, Sir

But the steady drain of soldier's life and limb in Iraq is essential to the defeat of this regime of usurpers. Any widespread call-up of reserves such as yourself, even, will make a great contribution, for it is bound to be wildly unpopular. These things are acid against the shell of triumph these criminals had hoped to shield themselves with for the upcoming election. That must be eaten away, whatever the cost.

[demdave]

55. That must be eaten away, whatever the cost??

Whatever the cost that you don't have to suffer. You advocate the steady drain of soldier's life and limb in Iraq for your own political ideals and gain. You sir, and I use that address loosely, sicken me.

[DrWeird]

58. This country has a history...

of sending its troops off for questionable reasons into questionable wars by politicians with obviously immoral motives. Anybody old enough to sign up should have been aware of this and expected it to happen. Everybody who is over there volunteered for it. They shat in their own nest and I'm not going to pretend like they're some kind of victim.

[demdave]

60. So let them all die, maybe it will help our party?

I thought all the commpasionate folks were Rep. but I was obviously mistaken. Sarcasm off

[The Magistrate]

63. Politics, Sir

Is a blood-sport.

The thing must be played as it lays.

Without the steady drain of soldier's life and limb, no one would pay the least attention to the thing: it would be presented as triumph, the colossal failure concealed, and you could be certain of further rule over our country by the most reactionary elements of its polity.

You may as sickened as you please by whatever you choose; it will make no difference to the existing circumstances of the political field.

"An election differs from a civil war only as the bloodless surrender of a force outnumbered in the field differs from Waterloo."

[demdave]

64. So you support the loss of US lives and the failure of this mission?

Would you be actively opposed to the success of rebuilding Iraq and helping it develope a fledgeling democracy?

[Old and In the Way]

69. Do you really think a Democracy is "made" by an occupying

country? Democracies are won by the people who rise up against the tyranny, internal or external. If you believe this regime is interested in "democracy building", you'd have to apparently think they are practicing it here.

[DrWeird]

70. The mission is a failure.

And rebuilding Iraq and establishing democracy was never the mission. Ending it as quickly as possibly is the least of all evils.

[demdave]

72. So you also advocate increasing the loss of US lives for politics?

That is what I responding to.

[DrWeird]

80. No.

But staying longer in Iraq means more civilians killed.

And the lives of a few thousand iraqi civilians is worth more than a few hundred US troops.

[The Magistrate]

78. Failure In Iraq, Sir

Was predestined from the moment the decision to conquer the place was taken.

The thing is not really a state. It is cobbled together uneasily from several ethnic and religious groups, all of which hate one another, and for good historical reason. It ought to be partitioned into a Kurdish north, a Sunni Arab center, and a Shia Arab south, but this is not going to be done.

In any attempt at elections, the only parties emerging will represent not political ideas or ideologies, but religious and ethnic identities. Whichever one won would move immediately to impose its ways and take its vengeance on the others. The victor would certainly represent the Shia Arab south, as this totals some three fifths of the populace. It would be radically fundamentalist in character, and every bit as despotic in its rule, and dangerous to the majority of its neighbors, as was Hussein's.

The one thing that just now comes close to uniting the populace of the place is widespread resentment at conquest by foreign forces perceived as Crusaders and agents of Zionism. There will be no success at rebuilding or even maintaining such infrastructure elements as powerlines and oil and gas pipelines so long as this continues, for these things are too vulnerable to sabotage and too difficult to protect. Nor will any governance established be viewed as anything but a puppet show by the conqueror, and this view will in fact be more true than not. It will not be heeded by the people, and its armed organs will be shot through with people who's true loyalties lay with the resistance to the foreigner. Settled rule is impossible in such a circumstance, without the employment of massive force in a calculated policy of frightfulness: i.e., without the re-creation of something very similar to the Hussein regime.

Competent leaders would have seen these obvious considerations, which were clear to anyone even mildly conversant with the place, and not chosen the course of action these creatures embarked on. They took this course for no other reason than their own political benefit, as they calculated it, believing war would enable them to smear any criticism of them in any sphere as anti-patriotism, and that the people would be so thrilled at the victory that their own populatity would be assured to the ages. They will not be the only ones to pay a price for these mis-calculations, but they must indeed be made to drain this cup they have brewed to the bitterest dregs.

[Dhalgren]

92. Well said;

elegantly put! A bracing, but accurate appraisal.

[Barrett808]

106. This discussion reminds me a bit of the White Rose Society

in Nazi Germany. When the Reich was demanding donations of sweaters for the troops on the Russian front, the White Rose people declined to offer any. Their reasoning was that Germany must lose the war, and any comfort they could give the troops would only prolong it.

They were beheaded later, of course.

[leesa]

119. The mission failed before it started

What on eath would make you think that Iraq, which exhibits no desire to have an American model (former model) of democracy would change their minds because we go in and murder their friends and families?? The neocons have zero interest in rebuilding Iraq...any more than they have an interest in rebuilding the US. They only want to steal the oil and to have a permanent base from which to steal more resources.

Wakey. Wakey.

[thebigidea]

128. "helping it develope a fledgeling democracy?"

AHAHAHAH! Sarcasm, right?



not with those two at the helm...

[Mikimouse]

82. It is a much larger issue than helping the party

This is about the survival of the nation. Look beyond the surface and accept war for what it is, and specifically how this 'war' was manufactured. Have we all forgotten the fates of the founding fathers? Most of them lost Everything in the revolution, and they probably knew they would, but they did what they thought to be right. Without sacrifice, there is no progress. No one here is expressing joy at the loss of our children, only the reality of a very dangerous international situation.

[tabasco]

87. I hope you're drafted

You obviously know nothing about people in the military. You spout your ignorance in a most offensive manner.

[Chomskyite]

115. I call bullshit

"This country has a history. of sending its troops off for questionable reasons into questionable wars by politicians with obviously immoral motives. Anybody old enough to sign up should have been aware of this."

Try getting any impression from your high school history textbooks of America as anything but a nation governed by saints and acting (except in the case of slavery MAYBE) for the benefit of the principles of freedom and democracy.

I wish more teenagers got a good look at Zinn's People's History of the US and some of Chomsky's work--let alone, god be thanked, a copy of The Nation. But I teach freshmen in a community college. Few of them have heard of Nicaragua or Panama or the Spanish American War or the Korean War. Few of them have heard of Richard Nixon.

[Old and In the Way]

65. Do you remember Viet Nam?

The very same rationale was used there. We need more troops to protect the troops. The killing on both sides escalated. Do you think that logic will really work?

Bring them home....now.

[demdave]

68. I remember Vietnam, I don't remember people hoping for more deaths.

Of course I was younger then and maybe people had the dignity to keep their vile thoughts to themselves. I am not posting in responce to the UN pulling out, I have seen them tuck tail and run too many times to expect otherwise. I am posting in reply to the posts that advocate more deaths in order to further our political position.

"the worse the situation in Iraq, the better for the prospects of evicting the criminals "

[Old and In the Way]

75. If people didn't protest against all facets of that war, we'd still be

there.

You miss the point....this administration dearly needs the cover and legitimacy of the UN Iraq. Once other countries take on the obligation of fixing what we have broken, the neo-cons would thus be free to pursue new countries to carry on their Pax Americana.

I, for one, am not happy to see our troops in harm's way. But I did not put them there, most of us here screamed against this action precisely because of the consequences that we knew would occur....this was the work of bunch of unelected war-profiteers who have a cartoon perspective of our role in the world....sadly, if you want to kill the cancer, you are going to kill some the good cells in the process.

[leesa]

123. He wasn't hoping for more deaths. He was simply stating that it is

inevitable. This is the bed the Crime Family and his ignorant supporters made. They have to sleep in it now. Sleeping in the bed demands the deaths of more and more soldiers until someone makes the Crime Family stop. Why don't you feel for the 10000+ Iraqis we have murdered who had done absolutely nothing to us.

[SOS]

71. Nonsense

The "steady drain of soldier's life and limb" rests with one man only - George Bush.
Bush put those soldiers there, not the UN.
No-one wants to see these soldiers killed and crippled. If the loss of life in Iraq sickens you, you might want to remember who put them there.
Re: politics - Carter won in 1976 because people were fed up with eight years of Republicans handling Vietnam and the economy. Same is going to happen to Bush next year. That's a political reality and not an endorsement of the current death and destruction in Iraq.

[underpants]

74. That is one no THE worst thing I have ever read on DU

You should be ashamed of yourself for wanting to use anyone's death (especially "our" yong people) for your political wants.

That is embarassing and anyone who reads that might think that some other __________________ here support that vile thinking.

[The Magistrate]

83. It Remains A Practical Fact, Sir

That had best be recognized and exploited.

It is the reason the jackanapes' support is eroding in recent polls, and the reason it will continue to erode.

The best way to exploit it is, certainly, to decry the deaths and maimings of the soldiery, and lay the blame for them at the feet of the wretch who sent them there, pointing out simultaneously the shabbiness of his purpose in doing so, and the the lies by which he contrived it, and the corrupt profits his cronies hope still to reap by it. It should be pointed out that every dollar spent there is a dollar not used for the benefit of people in our own country, and likely to boot to go into the coffers of Halliburton.

People will listen to that.

But the last thing anyone serious about defeating these reactionary reptiles should hope to see is an actual retirement of U.S. forces from Iraq: success in the endeavor to "rebuild" and "bring democracy" is not a danger, that will never occur.

[underpants]

86. Well it read as though you were rooting/hoping for their deaths

W has done what you are proposing in a way. He wraps himself in the flag and labels (his minions do) anyone who questions the action as being unAmerican and against the troops. I understand that it can be used but that doesn't mean it should.

The lives of our soldiers and the security they provide this nation was my main reason for opposing this war.

[The Magistrate]

88. No, My Friend

No more than for the sunrise and dawn. The deaths are going to occur, and cannot be prevented by any action we can take: the least that can be done is to get some benefit by them, namely, the removal of these criminals from power.

My own opposition to this war (and you may recall my whole-hearted support of the Afghan war) was owing to its corrupt political purposes, and the certainty that precisely the situation that now exists would surely result.

[Guaranteed]

101. I'm sure you wish you had been wrong though, right?

Mag we've talked about this before. You've told me you want things to be as bad and bloody as possible in Iraq because it would help get Bush out of office.

[The Magistrate]

103. When Your Enemy Is Digging His Grave, Mr. Looney

The best course is to hand him a shovel.

This is not a tea party; it is a struggle for the Republic itself against a reactionary cabal that would do away with the people's rule entirely if they thought that could be safely contrived. This struggle must be won, and whatever is apt to see it through to victory cannot be shrunk from. The point is to win, not to have no need to wash your hands afterwards.

Opposing the war was certainly safe, because there was no chance whatever such protests would be heeded. These people were set firmly on this course, and would be disuaded by nothing. The bloody and politically destructive outcome was entailed in the act itself, and certain to come about, whatever view anyone expressed concerning it.

These things, Sir, are damned near reducible to physical laws.

[Guaranteed]

126. I feel like I'm arguing with myself.

I think a lot like you. I know what you're saying.
But, it's wrong. You're losing perspective.
If you were in a band, the rest of your band would tell you that "You've forgotten about the music, dude....you've SO changed."
;)

[Guaranteed]

100. They're evils within themselves, Magistrate.

It's not the man, it's the actions. You want bad things to happen so that people will see them and throw out the man, but the problem isn't him, it's the bad things.
You have a highly romantic perspective on life, which is admirable, but...it can be taken too far. Good must overcome, yes, but, more directly, and sooner rather than later.

[The Magistrate]

104. How Charming, Sir!

It has been ages since anyone has called me a romantic: it will give the women a good giggle when they hear of it.

The problem is the reptile who has set the bad things in motion, and that for the shabbiest forms of personal gain. That the evil will recoil upon him is somewhat in the nature of things.

[Merlin]

117. You are the romantic, BullGoose. Mr. Magistrate is a consumate realist.

The fact is that no amount of "wishing" or "rooting" or "hoping" by any of us on this board will amount to even so much as a drop in the aggregate waters of the seven seas.

Wanting something to occur has no relevance to the facts unless the person wanting it has power to bring it about.

The Magistrate is simply looking forward to that fine day when the misery and death caused by the evil, vile, lying, rotten bastards who now run our government reach such a critical mass as to penetrate the consciousness of a jaded, propagandized American public.

When one urges another with all sincerity to avoid an action, and the other laughs in the petitioner's face and proceeds in spite and out of utter, sociopathic self interest, it is always a pleasure to see that other finally forced to wallow in the mud in the bitter writhing agony of defeat. I welcome that day for George W. Bush and his lackeys.

Bring it on!

[Guaranteed]

124. I totally agree but...

...Bush is bad because of the consequences of his actions (that's arguable, but for all practical purposes it's the case.)
The question just comes down to: do you want what's best for the country NOW, or do you want it bad until the election?
I totally look forward to seeing him gone, but, no, Magistrate is not a realist. He's thinking in characters and good and evil and winning and losing. He's not trying to work anything out in a REAL sense.
Just hypothetically, if it was possible why not have everything peachy with Bush as president?
If he wasn't mistaken (although he is) in his policies and it was possible for all this to be resolved, by him, absolutely perfectly, without a dollar spent or a drop of blood spilled, what would you think then, if he were the same kind of person? Would you still want him gone?
What if he had been right, I guess I'm asking. What would you do then?
I think that's what I meant when I said "But you hope you're wrong, right?"

[Merlin]

127. Here's the bottom line in this.

The Mage & I are old enough to have lived through this kind of thing before. We've seen Lyndon and Bob McNamara tell us with the utmost of confidence how they had thought everything through and winning would be easy, and the world would end if we pulled out of Nam. We were around when Tricky Dicky had everybody eating out of his hand and had us on the ropes thinking the light of reason would never shine again. We suffered through the Reagan era in excruciating agony.

We've seen what happens when the right wing demon is set loose to pillage public reason and ransack the treasury. We've been up and we've been down.

There's no point in "what ifs." We don't know "What if." We know "what is." We know it like the backs of our hands.

I don't know how the Mage feels, but I can tell you exactly how this thing will end. It will end when either a new American administration or a thoroughly humiliated Bush administration finally says to the UN and the other nations of the world, "OK. We'll share control (i.e. of the oil fields). We'll agree to reasonable sharing of military authority. We'll leave 65,000 troops in. Please come in with another 100,000 and take over. We'll continue to put up half the money. Please come in and prepare a transition to Iraqi self rule. If that means an Islamic state, then please do it in such a way that a 'decent interval' elapses before the Mullahs take charge."

That's the way out. It's the only way out. It will happen. Eventually. Take it to the bank.

Everything between now and then is just so much soap opera and bloodshed. No amount of "wanting" or "hoping" by us will make any difference at all.

They have lead us into a dark cave, full of vipers and demons, on the promise that there would be light at the other end. But there is none. Not now. Not ever. And the only way out is back the way we came.

[The Magistrate]

129. If The Wretch Had Been Right, Mr. Looney

There would be no opposition from me; my desire is always what is best for the people and my country, to the limit of my poor abilities to see what that could be.

In this case, what is best for the people and the country is the eviction of this reactionary reptile from the office he has usurped, and so egregiously misuses. This can only come about by electoral success, which in turn can only be achieved under favorable conditions. As in any conflict, the most favorable condition possible for battle must be contrived: this is the whole purpose of the arts of strategy, to contrive that the circumstances of the conflict be such that the foe has as little chance as possible to make an effective resistance. Battle in any sphere of human activity is not fair, and this must always be kept in mind when thinking on such matters: the goal is a circumstance tilted as unfairly to your own favor as can be managed.

Nor is my objection to this wretch centered in the sort of person he is, though clearly he is unsuited for any office higher than road-house drunk. My objection is precisely to the harm his policies inflict upon the people and my country; these things can be neither borne nor forgiven.

[Zhade]

95. You obviously meant "prison" instead of "Texas". Typo. ;)

NT!

[barbaraann]

22. Wolfie (CNN) is begging an Egyptian leader to send troops.

Gee, Wolfie, why don't you send the young people from YOUR family?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

32. Or, better yet, enlist.

[Divernan]

24. Earlier today, story on BBC News re significance of UN withdrawal

See:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3140184.stm

Senior UN officials met early on Thursday to discuss whether the time had come to pull UN staff out of the country as a result of the deteriorating security situation.. . .
only issue remaining is whether the UN retains a core of international staff to keep some symbolic presence in the Iraqi capital. . .decision had been taken purely on security grounds. . .
Officials acknowledged the political impact of the move at a time when the occupying powers in Iraq are struggling to prove that they are able to maintain law and order.

[hatrack]

27. Just one thing left to say regarding Chimpy's speech:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

[Beetwasher]

28. Make No Mistake About It: THIS IS IN DIRECT RESPONSE

To the Chimps disastrous speech at the UN. This is the UN's answer to the Chimp.

BIGGEST DIPLOMATIC FAILURE IN HISTORY!!

[lanlady]

31. ranks second only to--

--the diplomatic failures of this past winter in the weeks before the war.

[hatrack]

34. Worst. President. Ever.

NTN - "No text necessary".

[Zero Gravitas]

51. You got that right!

If El Smirko hadn't been so gung-ho to show the World who's the boss and actually waited until he could build a meaningful international coa-lition before invading the middle east we wouldn't be in this situation. All the blame for this falls on George W. Bush, the worst "President" (if you can call him that) this country has ever had.

[davsand]

53. Shrub better start packing his bags.

The UN just put him in an extremely vulnerable postion on re-election.

I agree that this is a direct response to his speech the other day. They have just announced to the world that the US does NOT have order over there, and that they are worried about it getting worse. I can't blame them really, why would they put anyone over there if they aren't safe? We are upset because our guys are in harm's way--wouldn't the UN feel the same way?

The only way to get control over there is to take in a huge ground force, and the only way they can do that is to either abandon Afganistan or else go to a draft. Either way, shrub's butt is looking to take some chewing by the media and the US public opinion.

The level of anger and ill will a draft would generate is staggering. The level of pressure that will be brought to bear on him by the oil companies to protect that Afgan pipeline is equally strong.

I think that SOB may finally be coming up on his Waterloo. My only sadness is that so many lives have been wasted in the process.

Laura

[sendero]

116. Kofi just...

... bitch-slapped Bush*, and slapped him hard. But the UN is irrelevant anyway, so who cares :)

[Gimel]

120. Garmany as a ally

Only German support was enlisted, as far as I noticed. Bush is getting chummy with Schroeder: "Our differences are over"
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/09/24/sprj.irq.schroeder.bush/index.html

[deutsey]

33. So: Is the UN actually pulling out or just considering it?

You'd think this would be up on the news sites by now if they are pulling out...

:shrug:

[underpants]

41. BBC LINK!!!!!!! --UN CUTS staff in Iraq

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3140184.stm

UN cuts staff in Iraq
"Today there remain 42 in Baghdad and 44 in the north of the country, and those numbers can be expected to shrink over the next few days," said a spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

"This is not an evacuation, just a further downsizing, and the security situation in the country remains under constant review," he said.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

35. Any word on Sex Slavery?

Worst pResident ever.

[Ashcroft Kutcher]

38. Yes

In response to Bush's speach the UN now fully supports sex slaves. The UN was quoted as saying "Sex slaves, Saddam, Hezbollah, we support anyone who isn't George W. Bush"

[cherryperry]

84. Thanks for the break - getting too

heavy for me and than, along came AK: :pals:


:yourock:

[BattyDem]

36. That'll teach Bush* to flip the bird to the UN!

Asshole! Our troops are screwed and so are the Iraqis. This is so bad. :(

[underpants]

37. HOLD ON FOLKS I CAN'T FIND THIS ANYWHERE

I'm not saying that it isn't happening and I am NOT question the original poster (bobdole) but I can't find this on CNN or ABC or google or anywhere.

This would not definitely mean that member nations couldn't ($$$) contribute troops just that the UN itself would not be there.

[ixion]

39. yeah, I haven't been able to find this anywhere either, at this point...

we should wait for verification...

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. un is 'downsizing' in Iraq

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/middle_east/3140184.stm

downsizing is the quote from UN spokesman

[underpants]

43. LINK-Yes it is a cut not an evacuation still bad though.

[deutsey]

44. That's still pretty bad...

Thanks, Bush, for being such a uniter...dumbass

[lanlady]

45. "not evacuating, just downsizing"

from the current level of 80+ UN staffers in Iraq. No details on how many will leave.

[gp]

42. i cant find it anywhere either (link)

but i heard it confirmed on bbc world news and cnn international
NO WORD ANYWHERE ELSE

[molok555]

46. I also saw it on CNN Int.

They used the euphemism "temporary redeployment'. How's that for a Rummy-ism...

[lanlady]

47. it's OK, it's confirmed

n/t

[karlschneider]

50. Here's a link direct to the UN

http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=526

[FubarFly]

48. UN cuts staff in Iraq

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3140184.stm


Today there remain 42 in Baghdad and 44 in the north of the country, and those numbers can be expected to shrink over the next few days," said a spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.


There are concerns about Iraq's deteriorating security situation
"This is not an evacuation, just a further downsizing, and the security situation in the country remains under constant review," he said.

Officials said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had earlier received a recommendation that all international UN staff should be pulled back and based temporarily in the Jordanian capital, Amman.


On edit: Whoops, didn't see post # 41. Apologies for posting a dupe link.

[bif]

52. Nice job at the UN Georgie!

You asshole. Way to alienate the whole world.

[lanlady]

59. geez, this will do wonders for the morale of our troops in Iraq

n/t

[amish_enforcer]

61. morale......

They still have morale? If any do they are alot better people than I am, I would have lost it long,long ago.

[Nottingham]

62. I saw this coming its too dangerous for them

:bounce:

[BeHereNow]

67. Note to Neocons: THIS is called diplomacy

Instead of saying "FUCK YOU!"
The preferred phrase issued by the White House
for the last two years, in foreign relation dialogues,
The U.N. applies diplomatic language-
"Cut-backs" rather than, "We are OUT of here,
you took a dump, now clean it up yourself"

[TacticalPeek]

105. Old African proverb:

He who shits in road will find flies upon his return.

The scene of the cabal's crime has been the UN, from the start and since, and the road they travel is time.

Time, the thing that keeps everything from happening at once.

Where once their imagined power let them speed and slow events, bending time to the whip of their fantasies, now they are time's prisoner. It acts back on them, it's parceling of events proving dark causes with terrible effects.

Time held the noted "window of opportunity" last spring when Baghdad fell, when a then chance existed for an acceptably soft settling into the successful rapist's role. A quieted victim, on-lookers averting their eyes nervously, pants zipped up and back to the prowl.

The window now looks closed, sadly. Time can be such a bitch for the unforeseeing. Representative Murtha's passionate, eloquent appraisal is bearing out, and there is hell coming with hand out for blood payment.

I hope I'm wrong.

[Supply Side Jesus]

73. Humanitarian Catastrophe in the making.

The UN is there to make sure that all people have the basics of survival. With them gone, who is going to look over this function? The US miliatry? Hasn't the Red Cross/Cresant already pulled out? The US military has failed to provide the needed security to make sure these agencies can feed and cloth these newly 'liberated' people. With the chill of autumn and the promise of winter approaching, I fear the worst for these poor people who have wronged by so many, so many times.

[underpants]

79. If the pros are pulling out because it's undafe it's REALLY unsafe

The UN functions in really horrendous environments or at least they have in the past. If they don't think it's safe to be there then things aren't getting better as Rummy and Co. want us to think.

Welcome to DU :hi:

[Jacobin]

81. Gee, where's Franklin Graham?

I thought he and his minions were going to Iraq to hand out bibles and such and convert the heathens.

I insist that he go there right now. He's needed. Can't count on the UN, right? So Franklin, git yer plane ticket and get your silly little ass to Baghdad and start handing out bibles on the street!!

[JohnOneillsMemory]

93. um...'moron' is misspelled in your avatar...

but I dig your post and love Supply Side Jesus.

[republicansareevil]

96. The misspelling on the poster's avatar is intentional.

It's from a Yahoo pic of a freeper holding up such a sign. The pic has sort of a cult following by now. :)

[wellst0nev0ter]

109. Here It Is

Pretty much sums up the freeper war movement. Funny how they're quiet nowadays.

[wildwww2]

97. Moron is misspelled for a reason. It is an old joke on a pro Bu$h idiot.

Who was standing at a pro war demonstration with a sign that said: "Get a brain morans" Thus it has been a running joke here on DU for sometime. I am sure our court appointed leader could not spell any better than his supporters who want us to get brains. Someone will probably post his picture later. I don`t have the computer skills to do it. I must be one of the morans the guy was talking about.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[TacticalPeek]

107. LOL!

B-)

[stevedeshazer]

76. UN cuts staff in Iraq

They hate us for our freedoms.

[Must_B_Free]

89. Who cares?

UN is a "worthless debating society".

"Thank god the UN is dead", right?

Didn't I recall hearthing that out of the administration?

[Dr Fate]

90. Perhaps the "Coalition of the Willing" can take thir place???

remember when Bush/media insited that e had a "Coalition of the Willing?" Where are they? Did they ever even exist?

[papau]

98. UN to leave just a handful of foreign staff in Iraq

UN to leave just a handful of foreign staff in Iraq
By David Usborne in New York 26 September 2003

The United Nations decided yesterday to withdraw almost all of its remaining international personnel from Iraq within 48 hours because of fears for their safety, undermining claims by the United States that coalition forces are making headway towards curbing the violence in the country.Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, had been agonising over the safety of his staff in Iraq since the explosion at the UN headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August which killed 22 people, including his own personal envoy, Sergio Vieira de Mello. A second car bomb exploded near the compound on Monday, killing a security guard."This is not an evacuation, it's just a further downsizing," insisted Fred Eckhard, a spokesman for Mr Annan. He made it clear, however, that only a symbolic handful of the UN's core staff would remain in Iraq. All the others will be transferred to Amman in Jordan.

The news came on the same day that Vladimir Putin declared in his address to the General Assembly that the UN should be granted "direct participation" in the rebuilding of Iraq. Several world leaders have made the same appeal in New York this week.
The number of UN staff in Iraq had already fallen sharply over recent days. From a peak in August of 650 personnel, there were only 86 remaining yesterday. Mr Annan's decision means that almost all of those will now also leave. However, about 4,000 locally hired Iraqis will remain to assist in humanitarian programmes, including the distribution of food.The redeployment leaves a vacuum in Iraq at precisely the time nations on the Security Council are wrangling over a US-sponsored resolution to give an expanded role to the UN in the reconstruction effort in addition to mandating a multi-national force in the country.<snip>

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=447068

[imax2268]

102. I thought things were going fine...?

Found this in the same article...

Paul Bremer, head of the US-led administration in Iraq, said: "The people of Iraq are going to still need electricity; they are still going to need security; they are still going to need water; they are still going to need sewage in the next two to three months.

"They need it now and if the UN is going to spend some time out of the country thinking about whether they can go back, that is time that is lost, that is more dangerous for our soldiers."
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought Rummy said everything is going great over there...?

[TacticalPeek]

108. The Mother of All RW Spin Battles is joined.

Who can kill more of our soldiers? The heathen UN or the pagan media?

:puke:

[Myra]

113. Please don't ruin the Three Stooges for me

...Tho' I'll admit it's an apt comparison.

[jumptheshadow]

114. NY Post cartoon -- almost on topic

Picture NYC this week. Heads of state and diplomats everywhere. A major U.N. session going on. So the RW NY Post rolls out the red carpet.

It runs a headline that says (and I'm paraphasing but only a little bit): "Bush Tells U.N. to Stop Whining."

And today, they publish this cartoon. Welcome to New York, diplomats!

[Merlin]

118. This is an in-your-face act of political toughness by the UN.

They know that they only way to treat a bully is to isolate him.

The rest of the world now understands that this monster in our White House is vulnerable. They know they must not serve as enablers.

This is a good move by Annan, et al.

[The Magistrate]

122. It Is Indeed, Mr. Merlin

Well timed, and well judged.

[9215]

121. Kofi knows

He knows what the BFEE is capable of and how they hold the UN in contempt. IMO the BFEE/CIA is behind the UN bombing and the murder of the Shiite leader Hakem so that Chalabi will percolate to the top of the shit pot. I think Kofi knows he is being used as a pawn in the BFEE game. Withdrawing is a smart move. Slowly withdraw and concentrate your energies elswhere and

LET THAT FASCIST SMIRKING PRICK STEEEEEEEW!!!!!!

The world is pulling back from commitments in Iraq because they want to bring this bastard down. They smile and say they agree with this or that proposal, but in the end they just sit back and discuss it, or bargain some more and watch Bush squirm.

I love it!

Maybe the UN could help Venezuela out. Here is a real democracy being threatened by the CIA/BFEE. While Bush talks about "free markets" in Iraq he is trying his damndest to bring down a free society in Venezuela.

[goforit]

125. Kofi Amman needs to do what is right for "his" team!!!!

W reminds me of the Rams.

That Christian Right Warner just can't seem to make the right pass.