WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- First of two parts
A key commentary in the Iraq Study Group report was how unpopular the United States is among the Iraqi people with 79 percent of the Iraqi people having a "mostly negative" view of U.S. operations in their country and 61 percent approving of attacks on U.S. forces. This is an obstacle that must be overcome if the situation in Iraq is to right itself.
The idea that more U.S. force will alter events in Iraq ignores the key fact that in the words of Walt Kelly's Pogo "we have met the enemy and he is us." What is needed is a dramatic shift from the United States to the international community in Iraq. Specifically, the United Nations must step up its involvement; consideration should be given to turning the military operation into a NATO mission; and a more creative and focused economic international economic reconstruction plan should be implemented. While such an effort is not likely to get others to provide more troops, it would change the dynamic -- political and military -- creating some space under which substantial change and progress in Iraq could occur.
The U.N. should become the political overseer of making the Iraqi Government more stable and politically viable. The ISG report had a number of recommendations and timelines as to what ought to happen over the next year with respect to Iraqi internal politics. As it has in the past in Iraq, the U.N. should help guide that process so that it is inclusive and politically neutral.
Under present circumstances, the United States is seen as the final arbiter of the Iraqi political process. Although there is a measure of independence from the United States among Iraqi leaders, the reality is that no key appointments or decisions can be taken in Iraq without at least tacit approval by the U.S. government. While it is understandable that the Bush Administration cannot tolerate an Iraqi government that is so independent as to be hostile to U.S. interests, at the same time no Iraqi government that is seen as operating in the shadow of the United States will likely be able to garner the support of its people. The way out of this conundrum is to involve the U.N. on a more grand scale.
The U.N. is already in Iraq offering political support, economic reconstruction and promoting the protection of human rights. The U.N. Secretary General has a Special Representative, or SRSG, in Iraq overseeing all U.N. activities. It is useful to remember that President George W. Bush strongly backed the work done by senior U.N. adviser Lakhdar Brahimi to put in place a political process leading to elections. At a June, 2004 press conference the president praised Brahimi as the "quarterback" in establishing a process to form a new Iraqi government. If the United States could rely on the U.N. then, it can now. The time is right for its role to be enhanced and elevated with U.S. support.
This shift to the U.N. will also facilitate a process by which the United States can enter into discussions with Iran and Syria, as well as other nations in the region and globally, about Iraq. Having the U.N. convene such a meeting would make it easier on all nations that are skeptical of the U.S. role there from the Gulf States to the Europeans.
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(William Danvers has worked on international issues for nearly a quarter of a century, on Capitol Hill in the House and Senate, at the State Department, at the White House National Security Council, at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. For the past five years, he has served in the private sector as a consultant.)
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(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)
