Posted on 11/05/2004 12:15:03 PM PST by bill1952
Annan Warns U.S., Britain, Iraq Against Falluja Raid
1 hour, 39 minutes ago World - Reuters
By Irwin Arieff
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) has warned the United States, Britain and Iraq (news - web sites) that an assault on Falluja risked further alienating the Iraqi people and undermining planned January elections.
The warning, contained in letters dated last Sunday and obtained by Reuters on Friday, surfaced as U.S. troops urged civilians to flee the rebel-held city and launched air strikes in preparation for an assault aimed at crippling the insurgency before the elections.
Iraqis will vote on Jan. 27, Iraqi Vice President Ibrahim al-Jaafari told Reuters in Baghdad on Friday.
A U.N. spokesman said the letters to President Bush (news - web sites), British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) and Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi were "private communications between the secretary-general and heads of state" and declined comment.
But U.N. officials made no secret of their fear that a large-scale attack on Falluja could provoke an election boycott by Sunni Muslims and undermine efforts to promote stability.
"The concern is the broadest possible buy-in into the political process and the broadest possible participation," U.N. Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast told reporters.
Allawi argues force must be used against those who have attacked civilians and want to gain power through violence, and Iraqi U.N. Ambassador Samir Sumaidy has asked to meet with Annan to express his government's point of view on the letter, diplomats said.
Richard Grenell, spokesman for U.S. Ambassador John Danforth, said Washington would have no comment "on advice given in New York regarding military decisions in Iraq."
"This issue is for the Government of Iraq and those who are in Iraq willing to help them," Grenell said.
But Bush administration officials told U.N. officials that Annan's letter was "off the mark" as an attack on Falluja was meant to loosen the grip of a "band of thugs" so citizens could vote freely in the planned elections, said a senior State Department official who asked not to be identified.
British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said: "Falluja is an issue for the Iraqi Government. Security is one of their overwhelming concerns -- that shouldn't be underestimated."
"You can't have an area the size of Falluja operating as a base for terrorism." Jones Parry said.
In his letters, Annan said elections were "the keystone in a broader process to restore stability and legitimacy in Iraq."
"If the January 2005 elections are to contribute to this critically important objective, and not to fuel further divisions and instability, it is essential that current efforts to attract a broader spectrum of Iraqis to join the political process should succeed," he said.
"The threat or actual use of force not only risks deepening the sense of alienation of certain communities, but would also reinforce perceptions among the Iraqi population of a continued military occupation," Annan wrote.
Go eat some "Oil for Food" money, Coffee.
Does anybody listen to him anymore?
Will someone PUHLLLEEEEEaasse deport this desease called ANNAN!!
Who?
Yes, by golly, let's have a summit, or better yet a security council meeting to issue some resolutions...Kofi, you are a corrupt fool, crawl back under your rock and stay there until we figure out a way to "outsource" you and every other political hack that occupies a chair in the General Assembly.
Kofi--worry about Darfur why don't you.
Damn, he's evil. Strike a blow FOR Terrorism again Kofi? You are the devil's handyman.
Bush should withdraw the UN rep and demand Annan's resignation. Annan is a total POS. This idiot needs to be repudiated and now. I HATE that man. he is as evil as bin Laden-- The difference is he works from the inside.
What's a good location for the new UN building? Paris? Berlin? Some crater in Darfur?
I think Koffi forgot that it's the UN that has no credibility with the Iraqi people, who it blew off while it happily commerced with Saddam. Koffi ought to adopt the Cheney Initiative and go **** himself.
Mr. Annan,
My response to your >cough!< "well-meant" admonisment is simply [unprintable].
Do be kind enough to fall into a vat of industrial chemicals, would you?
Regards,
America
He's telling Iraq they can't clean up their own country? No wonder the damn old fool won't move in the Sudan.
This is absolute proof that invading that dump is exactly what needs to be done.
SPare me.
Hey Koffi,
Give back oall your "Oil for Food" Cash you skimmed off the top.
Then go the F@@@ home.
Oops, too late, our bad!! :D
Sounds to me like there's more evidence of pre-war collusion in 'Fooljah'.
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