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Administration tries to draw reluctant governments into Iraq
By Barry Schweid, AP Diplomatic Writer
Wednesday, May 26, 2004 | 2 comment(s)
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is hoping a new U.N. resolution will induce fence-sitting governments - maybe even some Arab states - to send peacekeeping troops to Iraq.
So far, though, the United States has few takers.
"It remains to be seen," Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday.
The uncertainty over troops underscores one of the many pieces of unfinished business as the United States begins the final push toward handing over political control to an interim Iraqi government by June 30. The White House said Tuesday the new Iraqi leaders will be named by early next week.
A senior administration official in Baghdad said the list had been narrowed, but that no final decisions have been made on the names of the Iraqi interim government. "We're down to a handful of names for each of the positions and in some cases a smaller number than that," the official said, on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the United States and Britain appeared at odds over how much control Iraq's caretaker government will have over American-led military operations after the handover.
In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Iraqis should have the final say over any major U.S.-led military operations. The "final political control as to whether you go into a place like Fallujah in a particular way - that has to be done with the consent of the Iraqi government," Blair said.
But Powell said U.S.-led troops will do "what is necessary to protect themselves."
Iraq's new government will have a consulting and coordinating role over U.S. troop operations, but that role still needs to be defined, said the administration official in Baghdad. The issue would be the first one addressed by the United States and members of the interim government once its leaders are named, the official said.
Powell said several countries have said they would consider sending troops.
For months the administration has publicly urged other nations to join the 32 countries with troops already in Iraq. While a dozen or so were said to be weighing a positive response, only Pakistan so far has indicated it might go along.
On Monday, Pakistan said it was considering the U.S. request, but only for a special force to protect U.N. facilities in Iraq.
So far, though, the United States has few takers.
"It remains to be seen," Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday.
The uncertainty over troops underscores one of the many pieces of unfinished business as the United States begins the final push toward handing over political control to an interim Iraqi government by June 30. The White House said Tuesday the new Iraqi leaders will be named by early next week.
A senior administration official in Baghdad said the list had been narrowed, but that no final decisions have been made on the names of the Iraqi interim government. "We're down to a handful of names for each of the positions and in some cases a smaller number than that," the official said, on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the United States and Britain appeared at odds over how much control Iraq's caretaker government will have over American-led military operations after the handover.
In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Iraqis should have the final say over any major U.S.-led military operations. The "final political control as to whether you go into a place like Fallujah in a particular way - that has to be done with the consent of the Iraqi government," Blair said.
But Powell said U.S.-led troops will do "what is necessary to protect themselves."
Iraq's new government will have a consulting and coordinating role over U.S. troop operations, but that role still needs to be defined, said the administration official in Baghdad. The issue would be the first one addressed by the United States and members of the interim government once its leaders are named, the official said.
Powell said several countries have said they would consider sending troops.
For months the administration has publicly urged other nations to join the 32 countries with troops already in Iraq. While a dozen or so were said to be weighing a positive response, only Pakistan so far has indicated it might go along.
On Monday, Pakistan said it was considering the U.S. request, but only for a special force to protect U.N. facilities in Iraq.
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