UN Is Pulling Out of Baghdad
The United Nations is pulling out its international staff from Baghdad while it re-evaluates the security situation, a spokeswoman for the organization said today.
The move comes after a series of deadly suicide bombings in Iraq earlier this week; in August, a bombing at the United Nation's headquarters in Baghdad killed 22 staff members and visitors and injured more than 150 people.
"We have asked our staff in Baghdad to come out temporarily for consultations with a team from headquarters on the future of our operations, in particular security arrangements that we would need to take to operate in Iraq," the spokeswoman, Marie Okabe, said.
She said it was not an evacuation from Iraq, and that staff would remain in the northern part of the country.
Get the rest of the story from the New York Times
Matt's Chat
And this is why UN control of Iraq would not work. Instead of digging in and denying the terrorists what they want (to get the UN and everyone else out), they succumb to the easy way of appeasement. Even if it is to "consult" with headquarters, the reality is they could have consulted from Baghdad. They chose to give in to the terrorists. And that is why they fail.Mark's Remarks
Of course, it is the classic french manuever, the classic UN Manuever, the classic Clinton manuever...THE OL CUT AND RUN. Remember the French crying out for assistance in Vietnam? The moment we went, they pulled out.....Remember Somalia, ditto with the UN and the United States, rather than staying and fighting the enemy, we gave in and knuckled up. I am sure some would call that diplomatic leadership, but it is cowardice, and it is appeasement.The UN has become even more irrelevant after this. They are cutting and running. I am sure this is all the fault of the United States, that we are at fault for the actions of terrorists, but maybe people would not see the UN as a weak target and easy if they would have joined with us in the battle? Maybe, just maybe, if they could have gotten member states to send troops for protection and security (HELLO, FRANCE AND GERMANY, LINE 1)then maybe this could have been avoided. However, instead of realizing what appeasement and apathy do, they continue to give credence and confidence to the terrorists.
We must not follow in the UN's footsteps. The Nincompoop 9 Dem candidates are all for leaving Iraq in the mess it is in. We do that, the terrorists win. They get back another nation, and more people will see the US as gutless, as not willing to stand with people, as not coming through on its promises and goals. WE cannot let that happen.....If we do, we will see someone far worse than Saddam come to power, we will encourage another generation of terrorism, and the 9/11 attacks will be only the first of many.....We cannot cut and run. WE must see this through.....The UN proved again why it is not up to the task of leading the world.....We must show why we are still the best and brightest beacon of freedom and liberty, and see this through.
