March 14, 2004

Some Iraqi Leaders Now Balk at Giving U.N. a Big Role

In a surprising turnabout, several Iraqi leaders are balking at allowing the United Nations to return to the country to help it prepare for the return of sovereignty on June 30.

Several members of the Iraqi Governing Council, which clamored for United Nations help on elections weeks ago, now say they are reluctant to give the organization a big role either in helping to prepare the Iraqi government to stand on its own or in readying the country for nationwide elections — to take place as early as December.
[...]
"We have had bad experiences with the U.N. in the past," said Yonadam Kanna, a member of the Iraqi Governing Council. "There is a difference of opinion on what their role should be here."
[...]

The suspicion with which the United Nations is regarded by many Iraqis dates from the time of Mr. Hussein, when the organization enforced the global economic sanctions on the government and presided over such unpopular programs as inspections for unconventional weapons.

Some Iraqi leaders said that antipathy toward the United Nations was reinforced when the team of experts, led by Mr. Brahimi, concluded that elections were not possible before June 30, and that Shiite leaders directed some rancor at Mr. Brahimi personally.

I have a feeling that things like Saddam's fiddling of the oil-for-food program as detailed here:
Hussein stole billions from oil-for-food program
are what the IGC is primarily remembering.
They know that the Saddam couldn't have pulled off this scheme without U.N. help, i.e. raking off a nice chunk of change for themselves while they "helped" Saddam buy "food and medicine."
So, it's delightful to see them come to their senses.
Sounds like their starting to "get" democracy and respecting their own country's and the Coalition's inherent wisdom.
For myself, I live for the day I don't have to listen to Kofi Annan's yapping about nuthin' but appeasement on TV, not to mention the other horrors the U.N. brings.