'Bush must compromise on Iraq'

2003-09-08 16:38

Washington - Now that the United States has admitted it needs United Nations help in securing and rebuilding Iraq, Washington must negotiate realistically with countries that opposed the war, top US dailies said in editorials on Monday.

In a rare prime-time speech from the White House on Sunday, President George W Bush said rebuilding Iraq "will take time, and require sacrifices" and that members of the United Nations "now have an opportunity, and the responsibility, to assume a broader role" in the endeavor.

"We cannot let past differences interfere with present duties," said Bush, who went to war without the endorsement of the UN Security Council.

More than a fig leaf

But Washington cannot expect other countries to pledge money or troops until it agrees to give the United Nations greater control over the Iraq project, the Washington Post said.

"Many of those nations... want more than a fig leaf with a UN logo. They want a genuine sharing of political control," the daily said.

The Bush administration must compromise, it argued.

"If the United States retains control over military forces in Iraq while an evolving Iraqi government reports to a UN administrator, Americans would lose little in the way of influence while gaining much in international support and credibility for their disavowal of imperial ambitions," the Post said.

"Such a compromise should be the administration's goal."

Boisterous speech

The New York Times noted the contrast between Bush's boisterous speech aboard an aircraft carrier in May declaring an end to major combat operations in Iraq, and Sunday's sombre appeal for help.

"Yet the administration still resists paying the necessary price of accepting broad UN authority over rebuilding Iraq's institutions and economy," the Times said.

"Telling members of the UN that they have a 'responsibility' to step up to the plate may seem a little presumptuous given the way Mr Bush ignored their earlier concerns at the time of the invasion," the Times said.

"The United States needs to negotiate realistically with France, Germany and Russia on expanding the peacekeeping forces and getting financial help with the huge reconstruction costs."

- AFP