And the reason the UN should not be put in charge in Iraq becomes clear.

[Epidemic]

I never thought of this as a reason but it is way better than my reasons.

UN to pull out staff due to terrorism security threats.

Wonderful plan there UN.

OOPs a bomb went off we better leave. To hell with providing aid and security. Give in to terrorism. Oh BTW wasn't the UN in charge in somalia. What a gem that became.

Me thinks we should remain in charge and hope that Democrats do not hand over the reigns to the UN if they gain power.

[shahani]

So now you're not so sure about Bush getting re-elected?

Changed your tune, huh?

Wonder why?

[ClubMed]

The UN is only as good as it's member states. A lot of people blame the UN for not being able to solve the worlds problems, yet few realise that it's disability is caused by the reluctance of the member states to give it more teeth and more muscle.

The UN supports millions of people around the world. Food and education aid. Social programmes. Removal of mines. Awareness campaigns against drugs, child labour and violation of human rights. Improvement of living and working conditions. Support in areas of famine.

Before they can start helping in Iraq the war has to be over. The UN cannot initiate social programmes while the future of Iraq becomes questionable each day. The UN is effective only after hostilities are over. It's the US Armies job to ensure that there is an environment that aids the UN in doing it's job. The UN aid workers don't run around with machine guns and in tanks, it's not what their job is about.

A lot of people only hear about the UN in issues that receive a lot of media attention, yet the UN is engaged in thousands of projects around the world that do not receive a lot of attention, possibly because they are not interesting enough to report about, such as education programmes in the favelas of Brazil or in the communities of the Congo.

There is no point in sending aid workers into a region where they are killed. Aid workers cannot help the Iraqis if they are dead. Perhaps you are also not aware that the mantra of all support organisations such as the Red Cross, Firefighters, UN, Doctors, Nurses and all kinds of NGO's is 'Selbstschutz vor Fremdschutz' in other words you have to protect yourself before you protect others because your services are of no use if you are dead. A dead aid worker is of no use to the Iraqis.

Perhaps I am such a supporter of the UN because my dad has been working there for the past 25 years, I get the inside view that little are aware of. Few know how much work there is and how many hours are put into making the UN what it is.

So when the aid agencies pull out of such a region it is going to help the Iraqis in the long run, because they have to protect themselves if they are to be usefull to the Iraqis.

Hollywood style heroism is not reality. It might impress some people but it is of no use to those that need help.

"Oh look a dead UN aid worker!. Oh how fun, maybe he can help us build a school, or treat an illness!"

[Epidemic]

Yet everyone seems to want to put the UN in charge.

Iraq does not only need aid right now. They need a strong hand to try and keep the power seekers at bay.

Where the UN in charge I believe that the ultimate future of Iraq would revert to a powerful warlord after a nasty civil war. May still happen when the US pulls out. You do need a solid government to resist the terrorists and powerseekers under control for the years it takes to become a solid nation I feel we are likely to pull out with in 5 years. I doubt if the new government can become strong enough in 5 years to resist the sniping and bombings that will happen post occupation.