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Iraq
UN Plans to Open New Baghdad Office
2007-09-23
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United Nations will open a new office in Baghdad to encourage cooperation between Iraq and its neighbors as part of the world body's efforts to expand its presence in Iraq, the U.N. secretary-general said Saturday.
Now that we've done a lot of heavy lifting, the UN will come back. Be prepared for lots of white Toyota Land Cruisers and a backlog on reservations in restaurants inside the Green Zone.
But Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hoped ``more would be done'' to improve Baghdad's security as the U.N. builds its presence, which has been greatly reduced since an Aug. 19, 2003, bombing at its Baghdad headquarters that killed 22 people. Ban's comments about security - as he sat alongside Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki - reflected the challenges confronting the Iraqi premier's struggle to stabilize the country while dealing with pressure from congressional Democrats who are calling for the quick withdrawal of American forces.

But Ban emphasized that the international community cannot turn away from Iraq. ``Its stability is our common concern,'' he said after a meeting that grouped top diplomats representing many of Iraq's neighbors, the United States, donor nations and other groups.

Al-Maliki, who is in New York for the U.N. General Assembly and is scheduled to meet with President Bush on the sidelines, acknowledged that the country continued to face challenges, but said that ``those following the situation in Iraq have spoken of a marked improvement (in security).''
That's a nice slap: Ban hasn't been following the situation, of course.
Ban said the new office in Baghdad would help foster dialogue between the countries bordering Iraq and that its framework and other details would be addressed at a meeting in October in Turkey. Another office is also being considered in the southern city of Basra and the office in Irbil, in the north, could be expanded. ``U.N. experience around the world reveals that such offices facilitate communication and helps to maintain coherent direction,'' he said, according to a statement of his comments to the diplomats.
Posted by:Steve White

#11  Steve, the UN won't go with IA, even if they show up alone. They'll hire from a 'local contractor' and then appear utterly surprised when the office goes up in a puff of smoke.
Posted by: Pappy   2007-09-23 21:37  

#10  Last time the UN was in there, Kofi was in charge, like Jacques and Gerd. Notice how they're all gone but W is still there?
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-09-23 15:37  

#9  IIRC, the last time the UN was there, they declined our security help on the grounds that it was too war-like and involved guns and soldiers and stuff.
Posted by: SteveS   2007-09-23 15:14  

#8  I dunno, Pappy, some of the IA units are getting decent enough. Back them up with some overwatch from our boys, or a trained Blackwater unit, and they might be just fine in this job.
Posted by: Steve White   2007-09-23 14:35  

#7  Great...and who's going to guard the place; Blackwater, coalition troops, or the UN's security force?

Likely they'll either hire additional UN troops, or go with local security. Either one will be ineffective.
Posted by: Pappy   2007-09-23 12:37  

#6  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hoped "more would be done" to improve Baghdad's security

In otherwords, even more heavy lifting for America to ensure the UN's safety even as they loudly and constantly bemoan our role as the world's policeman. [spit]

Ban's comments about security - as he sat alongside Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki - reflected the challenges confronting the Iraqi premier's struggle to stabilize the country

Bullshit. Destabilize, more likely. A secure and peaceful Iraq would probably vote a gangster like al-Maliki out of office faster than the devil can get his shoes on. Al-Maliki thrives on chaos as he not-so-deftly juggles his government's wannabe warlords along with the renegade militias of pet bullyboys like Moqtada Sadr.

We are being treated to the exact same perpetual cycle of endless self-entrenching chaos that Israel endures in Gaza and the West Bank. In both cases, a peaceful solution is the least desirable outcome. True prosperity eliminates the majority of corridors whereby these terrorist pimp warlords maintain both their power and profit. They thrive on mayhem and disorder. Just as the Two State solution is but a sordid ruse to continue the Palestinian status quo of endless hudna and predation, so is the farce of any Shi'ite—Sunni reconciliation but a tinsel lure dangled before America as an illusory and ever-elusive goal.

Despite whatever remote possibility that ordinary Iraqi folk would like to coexist in peace, their political and religious elite have no such intentions and will have none of it. Islam's aristocracy has long ago made it clear that prosperity is wholly undesirable. Any comfort or sense of well-being bred up by political and economic stability are seen as distracting Muslims from their proper purpose of jihad and establishment of the global caliphate. Not a one of the decision-makers could give a damn about peace. Not in "our time", not ever.

The sooner America and the West realizes this and installs harsh, dictatorial military regimes of our own designation, the sooner these greedy, quarreling thugs will be put out of business. Remember, so long as we participate in this complete and total farce, their main business will be seeing that the maximum number of our peace-bringing troops DIE.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-09-23 06:10  

#5  Great...and who's going to guard the place; Blackwater, coalition troops, or the UN's security force? I want to see some blue helmets out there to share the death, when the sui's come a callin. Please don't let it be Blackwater or Maliki won't be able to STFU!!
Posted by: smn   2007-09-23 04:33  

#4  I'm sure the UN folks will do their usual exhaustive research into Iraqi society, such as patronizing five star hotels and engaging the services of child prostitutes.
Posted by: Swamp Blondie   2007-09-23 02:18  

#3  Dems will have one more item on the list of things to ignore when bemoaning the situation in Iraq. If the UN comes back it means that they think they have little to worry about.
Posted by: gorb   2007-09-23 01:51  

#2  The UN will not be there for long. Someone will set off a couple cherry bombs in a wastebasket and they will run like rabbits.
Posted by: SteveS   2007-09-23 00:35  

#1  My god - those poor bastards.

What have the Iraqis done to deserve this?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2007-09-23 00:03  

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