Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=8/25/03

TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP

NAME=INTERNATIONAL HELP IN IRAQ

NUMBER=6-13061

BY LINE=ANDREW GUTHRIE

DATELINE=Washington

EDITOR=Assignments

TELEPHONE=619-3335

CONTENT=

INTRO: Following the bombing of United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, and other violence, the U-S press is expressing concern over president Bush's Iraq policy. There is a growing cry for more international help, both military and economic, to stabilize and rebuild the country. The papers mostly agree that to get that help, the U-S must surrender some control to the United Nations. We get a sampling now from V-O-A's ___________ in today's U-S Opinion Roundup.

TEXT: Secretary of State Colin Powell made a plea at the U-N last week for more international. But many potential helpers will wait until: One: they can share in control and two: they are becoming increasingly concerned that terrorism is now so bad their troops and civilians would be at unacceptable risk.

The New York Times phrases its concerns this way.

VOICE: According to the best estimates, rebuilding Iraq is likely to cost some 20-billion dollars a year for the next five years. Broader international support will not materialize until Washington changes its Lone Ranger [Editors: in this case slang for "solitary"] approach. Last week's decision to seek a new U-N resolution is encouraging. But unless Washington is willing to accept a much larger U-N role in developing independent Iraqi political institutions, other countries will continue to hold back.

TEXT: In the Midwest, The Chicago Tribune worries about the increasing presence of foreign Islamic terrorists said to be infiltrating into Iraq.

VOICE: Their presence is one more reason why the U-S and the U-N must reach agreement quickly on a larger, international presence to secure Iraq and hasten the development of Iraqi-led government, cultural and legal institutions. It is not easy to fight against ambushes and bombings. But such a guerilla war can sustain itself only as long as Iraqis will tolerate it.

TEXT: Florida's Orlando Sentinel disagrees with the prevailing views, suggesting, "There are ways for the U-N to have an Iraq role without ceding all U-S control."

VOICE: There is ample room for a compromise. For example, the United Nations could be given responsibility for political and economic affairs in Iraq on the condition that L. Paul Bremer, currently the top U-S administrator, be named the U-N special representative. Authority for security could be delegated to NATO, already filling that role in the Balkans and Afghanistan.

TEXT: On New York's Long Island, Newsday suggests: "The White House won't get the help it needs policing Iraq if it won't also share control."

VOICE: Secretary of State Colin Powell is asking countries that had opposed the war for more help in securing and stabilizing the country but he was adamant that the Bush administration would not share military, political [or] economic authority in exchange. That's not just abysmal diplomacy, it's an absurd bargaining position.

TEXT: In Ohio, Cincinnati's Post worries that if nations like France contribute troops but demand control over them, it could result "in more confusion than assistance."

Lastly, The Washington Post adds:

VOICE: There shouldn't be any debate about the need for more intense effort and more openness to allied cooperation. The longer the administration delays, the greater the chances of failure.

TEXT: Those thoughts on getting help in Iraq from The Washington Post concludes this editorial sampling on that topic.

NEB/ANG/RH