US, UK Discuses Post-war Iraq

War on Iraq is still under way, but discussions over the establishment of a transitional government in Iraq have already begun. U.S President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are reported to hold a summit meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Apr 7 to discuss plans for post-war Iraq.

Guardian, a British daily newspaper, reported on the 6rh that the US was ready to establish a transitional government in Iran on the 8th at the earliest. New York Times reported on the 6th that retired US general James Garner would lead a team that would run post-war Iraq. His team would comprise hundreds of US war veterans, diplomats and relief workers alongside some British officials and Iraqi exiles selected by the US.

The Times added that the UN was totally excluded from the team’s operation.

Regardless of the atmosphere in Iraq, the discussion in the international arena is centered on whether the US lead the post-war plan. There is no objection to the World Food Program (WFP) of the UN taking charge of the relief work. But there is a confrontation over political and economic interests such as the post-war rule in Iraq and the rebuilding of the oil industry.

Some observers say that the US administration has failed to fine-tune the internal policy. Regarding the UN’s role in the planned transitional government, BBC reported on the 5th that Condolezza Rice, US security advisor, said that it had yet to be discussed, while Colin Powell, US State Secretary said that the dialogue over the issue had already been under way, showing a obvious difference in their point of view.

But the US seems to rule out the UN in the post-war rule in Iraq. Such an intention of the US has been witnessed in its move to set up a transitional government in a hurry or Garner’s remarks that they would hand over the government to the Iraqi people as soon as possible.

On the other hand, British Prime Minister Blair supports the expansion of the UN’s role since he cannot ignore the domestic sentiment and other European countries.

Countries opposing the war on Iraq have recently kept a low profile, but still checked against the US. Russian President Bladimir Putin and French President Jacques Chirac emphasized the UN’s role in their telephone conversation on the 5th. China expressed a similar view on the 4th. German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder said that he would mull over ways for the German military to join the UN forces, which would be deployed to Iraq after the war.

Meanwhile, Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), a political dissident group in Iraq and the Kurds, which has helped the US forces in Northern Iraq are raising their voices in opposition to the US rule in Iraq and its participation in a transitional government. They say that a transitional government is to the dignity and independence of the people.

Hye-Yoon Park parkhyey@donga.com