OK, so you're Kofi Annan. Bush comes to you and asks you for help.

[Plaid Adder]

And of course the first thing that comes out of your mouth is, "CRAWL FOR IT!"

What next? What conditions should the UN lay down before they agree to bail the Chimpster out?

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[jagguy]

1. you thank God that you get some opportunity to seem viable again

The UN needs all the help it can get to appear to have any viability and credibility.

[Eloriel]

13. I couldn't disagree with that more

TRhe UN has never been MORE viable. Just because it doesn't itself use force to "make" countries like the USA and Great Britain and their would-be dictators do its will, in the old paradigm ways of doing things, doesn't mean it's not viable.

The very fact that the UN denied Bush its approval for his illegal war, reflecting the will of the people all over the world, shows its viability. The very fact that he now NEEDS the UN also demonstrates its viability.

Eloriel

[Jacobin]

15. The UN has INCREDIBLE viability and even more CREDIBILITY

THEY WERE FRICKING RIGHT ABOUT NOT INVADING!!!!!!1

[xchrom]

22. you're funny!

got any more lines like that?

[Beetwasher]

2. UN Chooses the commander of the forces

All contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq and control of it's resources are nullified and the UN starts and controls the bidding process and selection to.

Elections as soon as possible.

[prolesunited]

6. I think yours are solid recommendations

and I hope that's what the UN will be going for.

I might add one more thing: For them to admit they lied about the reasons for getting us involved in the first place.

[redeye]

3. Three main conditions

1. Practice what you preach when it comes to liberation, i.e. don't herd Iraqis into camps, and don't violate the Geneva Convention;

2. Let the UN handle its own troops, and put both the US and the UN troops under one supreme command in which the US and the UN have equal say;

3. Allow the UN and the dominant groups in Iraq to handle the question of Iraqi democracy, and promise free elections in 12 months.

[drb]

4. I'd just say two simple words:

F**k you!

[Droopy]

5. Along with what is already suggested......

I'd want either a public apology by Bush before the U.N. representatives or at least a renewed commitment to the U.N. to never violate internationl law again. I don't know if it's realistic to expect either one of those, but that's what I'd want.

[reachout]

8. Kofi Annan

As fine a person as Kofi is, I don't think even his endorsement is going to have much effect on UN involvement. Until the White House can sucessfully bribe the security council into compliance, nothing much is going to happen.

That being said, I agree that both military operations and the rebuilding of the Iraqi governemntal structure through interantional auspices would both be necessary preconditions of UN involvement.

I must admit I somewhat lean towards Monibot's position about not "bluewashing" our mess.

[karlschneider]

21. I guess that was your first post, welcome to DU! The software usually

behaves better than it is this afternoon.
;-)

[MGKrebs]

7. At this point I don't know what

the correct procedure for dealing with Iraq is. But, the UN should sort it out, and come up with a plan. The US would have to agree to buy into that plan or get the hell out.

It would likely be a painful process. So much damage has been done, both physically and psychologically, that it will take a while to gain some trust that the new plan is looking out for the Iraqi's interests. And it will take a while for the UN to put together a "team" to implement the plan.

Not only that, but because the UN basically looked the other way while the US attacked, many Iraqi's are not going to trust even this path. The Arab League might have to step up to the plate and take the lead on something like this.

[StandWatie]

9. I don't think he can help anyway

No one want to go clean up our mess..

[TEXASYANKEE]

10. I would want the conversation to go something like this:

Bush: Kofi, can the UN help us out in Iraq?

Kofi: Can we prosecute you and Cheney for war crimes?

[nostamj]

16. well, we would know how much BushCo cares

about the US. (zero!)

the entire administration needs to be tried for treason, convicted, and... punished.

[0007]

11. The UN should tell junior

that they the UN will be in complete control and the U.S. will take orders from the the UN.

The UN should barColin Powell from any involvement with Iraq.

[Bushknew]

12. ItÕs your mess you clean it up.

ItÕs your mess you clean it up.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

14. even though i and the UN are irrelevant and impotent

we will help the Iraqi people and you will sign the ICC treaty and while you're at it the Koyoto treaty

[Vitruvius]

17. I'd say: "Hell no! The moment we free up your troops in Iraq, you'll

use them to invade somewhere else!"

See George Monbiot's excellent article at http://www.monbiot.com/dsp_article.cfm?article_id=601

[RummyTheDummy]

18. The first thing shouldn't be "crawl for it"

It should be go fuck yourself followed by get the hell out of my office you jack off.

[Vitruvius]

19. I'd say: "Hell no, George! The moment we take over and free up your

troops, you'll use them to invade somewhere else!"

See George Monbiot's excellent article at: http://www.monbiot.com/dsp_article.cfm?article_id=601

[Cujo]

20. the UN shouldn't bail the US out

life is full of hard lessons. Americans need to learn this one, that duyba is a dangerous evil, if it means many coffins draped in american flags come home on a regular basis, then so be it. it sucks but most people aren't going to wake up and smell the coffee until something like that happens. we made our bed, now we must sleep in it, no matter how hard or lumpy the mattress is.

[snippy]

23. I would require that Bush run ads showing this picture and asking:

Which of these men appears to be qualified to run Iraq?


I probably would have other demands as well.