Secretary-General Kofi Annan told U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday that the United States is legally responsible for providing humanitarian aid to Iraqis "gravely affected by the war" in areas controlled by coalition forces. President Bush promised on Sunday that "massive amounts of humanitarian aid should begin moving with the next 36 hours." No aid has materialized, and Annan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and international aid agencies gloat about warn of a potential humanitarian crisis. Scrambling to answer critics, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer blamed Saddam Hussein's regime for slowing the flow of $105 million in U.S. aid by placing mines in the southern port of Umm Qasr, a key transport point on the Persian Gulf.
"Scrambling to answer critics" ... geeez!
Annan stressed to Rice that the United Nations was prepared to provide humanitarian assistance but could not until security conditions allowed the safe return of U.N. staff, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said. "Until then, humanitarian assistance would have to be provided by the United States and its coalition partners in those areas under their control," he said.
No kidding
Annan said any United Nations role in postwar Iraq beyond the provision of humanitarian assistance must be approved by the Security Council in a new resolution. He also emphasized the need to maintain Iraq's territorial integrity "and the right of its people to determine their political future and exercise control over their natural resources," Eckhard said.
"Annan said any United Nations role in postwar Iraq beyond the provision of humanitarian assistance must be approved by the Security Council in a new resolution." Bwaaa-huh-huh-huh-huh-huh! |