U.S. cuts its hopes for help in Iraq

[lindashaw]

The Pentagon (news - web sites) has sharply sliced the number of foreign troops it hopes will help stabilize Iraq (news - web sites), but even the 10,000 to 15,000 it is now seeking may be unattainable.

snip...

So far, only Bangladesh has said publicly it would send troops if a U.N. force is approved. Britain pledges to send at least 1,200 more troops to Iraq.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20030915/ts_usatoday/11851629&cid=676&ncid=1480

[lanlady]

1. basically, this alleged "about-face" in US policy

toward Iraq, involving a turn to the world for help, has been sabotaged by the Administration almost from the moment Bush ended his speech. I take that back--the self-sabotage was already in the text of the speech if you read it carefully ("we need you to help us keep what we stole").

There will be no UN anything in Iraq, apart from humanitarian aid.

[teryang]

2. Cheney has been consistently wrong

...on his approach to the middle east since day one. I notice he doesn't go on any overseas junkets anymore to use his renowned personal magnetism to urge others to follow his great personal leadership or that of the chimp.

Remember the great bandwagon effect that was supposed to occur when they'd gone it alone? Well, the great anglo American bandwagon still only has two drivers who have lost their way.

Why do they dignify this illegitimate regime by calling it the United States? That would be a constitutional government of the American people.

[pfitz59]

10. Shifty-eyed Cheney........

Saw him on TV this weekend. What a shady character, darting eyes, sneer and all! Would you buy a used car from him? (Let alone a foreign policy?)

[Brucey]

3. I think chimpy will get some UN backing, but limited.

This admin is the worst we've ever had, but they are powerful and devious. I think they will twist and turn enough to get some UN support, but certainly they will not relinquish any control over oil contracts or rebuilding contracts. The US taxpayer will give money to Helliburton and others... you are getting very sleepy, very sleepy, you will give me all your money...

[salin]

5. but they don't seem willing or able

to approach the UN humbly and seek assistance - with some power sharing. The approach - mirrors one admin cheerleader who claimed to the media over the weekend - that going to the UN wasn't a failure for US.. instead it was a way to offer other countries a "fig leaf" to allow them to take cover now that they want to participate.

Seriously stated. And our initial efforts (negotiations towards a UN proposal) fell apart, could the US representative been coming from the above perspective?

[schultzee]

8. Fig leaf? I thought it was olive leaf. Or does he want them to cover

their private parts. Perhaps a freudian slip from the C brain running a country with a huge arms supply.

[Beetwasher]

4. Pathetic, Disastrous Failure of Mind Numbingly Historic Proportions

One of history's greatest debacles is unfolding before our very eyes.

[R Hickey]

6. That bombing at the UN in Bhagdad looked suspicious.

Also the car-bomb that blew up the cleric. Both were made the same way, using old Iraqi bombs. Its the old 'throw-down-gun' trick. I think the Bushovics were involved in both those bombings.

The Bushovics want it to look like they are "trying" to get the UN involved, while simultaniously blowing them up, and in another town, elimating future political opponents.

[schultzee]

9. I think you are right, but I wish I did not.

I believe that bu$hovics did the bad deed.

[Enraged_Ape]

7. That headline should be, "U.S. CUT its hopes for help in Iraq"...

when they insulted the UN and the "cheese-eating", "chocolate-making" nations of the world. But this story was sadly underreported while it was happening.

[Dr Fate]

11. But Bush/media SWORE to us that we had a "Coalition of the Willing"

remember that? Whatever happened to this awesome, mighty and resourceful "Coalition of the Willing" that Bush, CNN, FOX, Tweety, Russert, Rush etc SWORE that we had????