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USA. Cont'd.

U.S., Britain Present Iraq Resolution to U.N.

In Baghdad, Mahmoud Othman, a Sunni Kurd member of the Governing Council, said the multinational forces should be under United Nations' command - a possibility ruled out by the Americans and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.' 'If that is not possible, then the Iraqi side must play an important role,'' Othman told the Arab television station Al-Jazeera. ''Why cannot we have a joint command, Iraqi-American? Why only American? ... This is important to Iraqis.'' Germany's U.N. Ambassador Gunter Pleuger called the draft ''a good basis of discussion'' and said ''we will have to make sure that this process provides Iraqi ownership for the political process as well as for the process of economic reconstruction.'' A French diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the mood ''constructive,'' but said the Americans would not be given ''a blank check'' in Iraq. French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told reporters that Paris seeks a timeline for handing over control of Iraqi armed forces. The Iraqi government should ''in time'' have ''authority over police forces and the Iraqi army,'' he said. Algeria's U.N. ambassador Abdallah Baali, the only Arab representative on the council, called the text ''a good basis for negotiations'' and expressed hope the 15 council members would reach consensus.-AP.Edith Leder.

Bush: "The return of tyranny to Iraq would be an unprecedented terrorist victory."

WASHINGTON (CP) - President George W. Bush cast the Iraq prison abuse scandal as just the "disgraceful conduct of a few American troops" Monday as he warned of accelerating violence on the road to democracy. Bush, confronted with graphic pictures and video of sexual humiliation and abuse by U.S. soldiers since last month, promised to build a new facility to replace Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad and bulldoze the old one if Iraqis agree. But his prime-time televised speech gave no timeline for withdrawal of some of the 138,000 American troops in the midst of the planned transfer of sovereignty to an interim government next month. Instead, more may be sent, he said, warning insurgents will probably become "more active and more brutal." The president, in a critical speech, tried to reassure Americans and Iraqis that he is on target for the political handover on June 30 and a plan to attract more international support in security and reconstruction efforts. "There are difficult days ahead and the way forward may sometimes appear chaotic," he told the Army War College in Carlisle, Pa. The United States, he said, isn't to blame for recent violence including the assassination of key Iraqi leader Izzedine Salim and a U.S. civilian who was beheaded. "The actions of our enemies over the last few weeks have been brutal, calculating and instructive," said Bush. "It reveals a fanaticism that was not caused by any action of ours and would not be appeased by any concession." Bush's re-election bid has been rocked by escalating violence in Iraq and numerous reports that suggest responsibility for the torture of Iraqis lies up the chain of command, not simply with a few U.S. military police.

Recent polls suggest Bush's approval rating is the lowest it's ever been during his presidency and many Americans think his Iraq strategy has gone off course. Yet Bush offered nothing new to satisfy critics in his speech, the first of several attempts he will make to reassure voters that his Iraq plan will work despite widespread chaos. "The return of tyranny to Iraq would be an unprecedented terrorist victory," he said. "They hope to wear out the patience of Americans  . . . before Iraqis have the capability to defend their freedom. "There are difficult days ahead  . . . Yet our coalition is strong. Our focus is strong and unrelenting. "Beyond the violence a civil society is emerging." Bush stressed that Iraqi military police and border forces have been assuming more responsibilities but observers say they are a long way away from taking charge of security. A new team of senior military officers is overseeing training for 260,000 Iraqi soldiers, police and other security personnel, said Bush. He also emphasized that the United States is working with United Nations special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to select interim government leaders until elections can be held next January. "The June 30th transfer of sovereignty is an essential commitment of our strategy. Iraqis are proud people who resent foreign control of their affairs, just as we would." Bush, who earned the ire of longtime allies in bypassing the UN and invading Iraq, is now trying to enlist more international support for reconstruction and security support during Iraq's transition. The U.S. and Britain presented a new UN resolution Monday that would authorize a multinational force to maintain peace with Iraqi consent. "Despite past disagreements, most nations have indicated strong support for the success of a free Iraq," said Bush, "and I'm confident they will share in the responsibility for assuring that success." A bigger role for NATO will be discussed at a summit in Istanbul next month in the face of an expectation of increased bloodshed. "Terrorists will not determine the future of Iraq," said Bush, who got a standing ovation at the end of his 30-minute address. "That nation is moving every week toward free elections and a permanent place among free nations," said the president, adding he didn't send troops there to stay as an occupying power or turn Iraqis into Americans. "Iraqis will write their own history and find their own way. As they do, Iraqis can be certain, a free Iraq will always have a friend in the United States of America." -Beth Gornham.

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