William Pfaff: Would a UN occupation be any better?

[Dover]

Chaos in Iraq

PARIS The Bush administration and its supporters continue to react to the deteriorating situation in Iraq with shock and denial.

Denial is even coming from some in the opposition who, like the administration, are taking refuge in remedies that have little chance of being adopted, such as placing the occupation under nominal United Nations authority, with the United States still in charge.

President George W. Bush reportedly agreed Tuesday to begin negotiations in the UN Security Council to authorize a U.S.-commanded multinational force for Iraq. With such an arrangement, it is thought, the governments convoked to a donors' conference in October would make financial pledges to reconstruction.

The question about any UN solution is this: Why should countries that were opposed to the war assume responsibility for its painful consequences? Washington may be misreading the support the French, Germans and other Europeans have given to the notion that the United Nations can solve the Iraq problem. The Europeans do not have in mind the same solution as the Bush administration....>> MORE

http://www.iht.com/articles/108732.html

[glarius]

1. The countries in the U.N. are no doubt leary of sending troops...

"Why should countries that were opposed to the war assume responsibility for its painful consequences?"

I'd add to that....Why should countries opposed to the war send their soldiers over to Iraq as sitting ducks to be picked off as the American soldiers are?....My heart goes out to the young Americans loosing their lives over there but I don't want our young Canadian soldiers to take their place!...We just sent 2000 over to Afghanistan to join those we already have there and it's not so safe there either! Boy what a mess Georgie and the boys have created!

[Capt_Nemo]

2. A political process conducted under UN mandate

as well as military action under UN mandate constitute NO occupation,
since it is within the bounds of International Law.

The author seems not to care much what the rule of law is about.