Yesterday afternoon, Bush was awfully anxious to boast of the United Nation’s ongoing presence in Iraq.
“[My opponent] wants the U.N. to be involved in those elections. Well, the U.N. is already there [in Iraq].”
A couple of hours later, as if on cue, the AP reported:
Two organizations representing more than 60,000 United Nations staff members urged Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday to pull all U.N. staff out of Iraq because of the “unprecedented” risk to their safety and security.
In a joint letter to Annan, the staff organizations cited a dramatic escalation in attacks in Iraq and said the United Nations regrettably “has become a direct target, one that is particularly prone to attacks by ruthless extremist terrorist factions.”
“Just one staff member is one staff member too many in Iraq,” they said. “We … appeal to your good judgment to ensure that no further staff members be sent to Iraq and that those already deployed be instructed to leave as soon as possible.”
Of course, Bush’s rhetoric not withstanding, Annan already pulled international staff out last year after two bombings killed dozens at U.N. headquarters in Baghdad. Over the summer, Annan permitted a small contingent to return, but even their presence now seems tenuous.
Notice a pattern here? Bush boasts about Poland’s role in Iraq, and Poland announces it’s pulling its troops. Bush boasts about the U.N.’s role, only to see the U.N. considering a plan to withdraw its already limited staff from Iraq altogether. Bush truly is Midas in reverse — everything he touches falls apart.
(thanks for Fitz for the tip)