As the US-led war in Iraq is coming to an end, reconstructing a democratic Iraq and giving power to the Iraqi people are the most urgent jobs at hand. One question surfacing, much to the embarrassment of the UN, is the role it will or, more precisely, will be allowed to play in post-war reconstruction.
While the US and UK have openly reassured that the UN will play a "vital role," ironically the task spelled out for the international organization thus far takes the form of passing resolutions to endorse reconstruction efforts spearheaded by the US and UK. Yesterday, US Secretary of State Colin Powell announced that his country will seek a series of UN resolutions endorsing a future Iraqi government, oil sales and humanitarian aid. Surely, everyone remembers how the US and UK had to withdraw from the UN Security Council a resolution on endorsement for the war against Iraq due to strong opposition.
One two-fold question for the UN is this: should the body of nations endorse reconstruction efforts made possible only because of a war it had never endorsed to begin with, and does that in anyway signify a belated endorsement for that war?
Another question is whether, besides the provision of humanitarian aid, the UN's primary function in world affairs is being reduced to a mere rubber stamp for major powers' foreign policies that is engraved with the words "legitimacy granted?"
If the UN doesn't want to settle for that role, is it capable of doing more? If not, it is obviously regressing to its immediate post-World War II era state. This may be an inevitable development for an international body which has to rely on the mercy of its members to finance its enormous expenses. This is especially the case when such aid comes predominantly from a handful of powers, and when some permanent members of the Security Council do not chip in enough to come even close to be in proportion with the power they hold.
The truth of the matter is things are pretty much entirely up to the US and the UK. Without their backing, it is no exaggeration to say that the UN has been stripped of an arm and leg. Yet the cruel reality is the two would probably be able to carry on with the reconstruction work in Iraq without the meaningful participation of the UN.
If the US and UK allow the UN to participate in a meaningful way, they may be able to mend the broken relationship with other powers, such as France, Germany, Russia and China.
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (
Irrespective of who takes the lead role, the most important thing is to place power in the hands of the Iraqi people.
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