About the first post (gah, I hate beginning posting at page 8
)
France and Britain both call for a UN resolution about postwar Saddam and want the UN to take reconstruction in charge. I am not aware of the US position on this.
Personally, I hope the Bushies will forget their pride and will turn to the UN for the reconstruction. They are likely to do so, because the war would have been expansive enough, and the reconstruction under UN rule whoch prove much less costly to them. I guess they'll manage to make the UN reconstruction plan outstandingly good for US business interests (strong bargaining power, especially if the puppet regime says it would agree with a US only reconstruction).
I am pretty sure the Bushies will botch the reconstruction if they do it alone. First, the UN has a big experience in this, unlike the US : the UN monitored East-Timor democratic transition, which is satisfying so far. It has many reconstruction programs around the world, in which its specialized agencies are working : food, infrastructure, education, human rights etc. The US would be a newbie in this exercize, save for the rusted experience of WW2.
Also, I really fear bigotry from the US. The current admin has shown a dramatic inability to question its decisions, and seems to need spread its values thoughout the world. Should they enter the wrong direction at the beginning of Iraq's reconstruction (which is likely, because its axes would be decided in Washington through an American world-perception), they won't change direction once proven it is wrong.
Also, the US might want to ally with a specific Iraqi faction (or group thereof) for the sake of power stability. This would serve the American goal to get out of Iraq as soon as possible, to avoid paying too much. However, while instituting a faction at power pays in the short term, it can only lead to crises later, sometimes ages later. The UN's perspective, which is to build a stable state preferably democratic, will be much longer and frustrating, but will pay in the long run if it works. But such a process needs to be looking for compromises, something completely alien to Bush's team.
We can also fear clientelism from the US if it is in charge of the reconstruction, giving more spoils to the most pro-US factions. This would deepen the rifts.
Lastly, going to the UN for reconstruction might give the UN the boost it needs so much today. That would also give much more legitimacy to the US on the international level, and begin to repair their damaged reputation, as well as healing the wounds of the transatlantic relationship. It would be about time.
For the sake of the Iraqi people, and for the US interests, I hope the Bushies will go to the UN for reconstruction.
And that they won't mindlessly say "Ah ! Screw the UN and screw France !"
