WP: A Solid Vote That Buttresses 'Made in USA'

Resolution on Iraq Not Expected to Attract Contributions of Troops and Aid From U.N. Members

The Bush administration, having won unanimous approval yesterday of a U.N. Security Council resolution that backs the U.S.-appointed Iraqi leaders, was muted in its celebration -- and for good reason.

President Bush greeted the vote with one sentence, thanking the Security Council, toward the end of a speech in California and an 80-word written statement. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, while calling it "a great achievement," was careful to add: "I don't see this vote as opening the door to troops."

The 15 to 0 vote, bringing in not just France, Germany and Russia but also Syria, was no small feat. But analysts and diplomats said the impact of the resolution would be limited, and perhaps not worth its cost of exposing the deep-seated resentments in the world community over the U.S. handling of the Iraq war. Few believe the Security Council's resolution will bring much in terms of pledges of troops or aid, even though the Bush administration originally sought the resolution for precisely that reason.

France's permanent representative to the United Nations, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, underscored that point when he read a statement from France, Germany and Russia calling the resolution "a step in the right direction" but saying it "should have gone further" to broaden the U.N. role and transfer power to Iraqis. "In that context, the conditions are not created for us to envisage any military commitment and any further financial contribution beyond our present engagement."

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38336-2003Oct16.html

Ah, today has been a very good day. :)

Of course, it won't mean any more money, or any more troops, other than our own.

But still, no question about it, a major MAJOR victory for Bush.

Feh.

It is a major victory for human civilization. No money and no troops means that Likud's second army will remain tied down in Iraq for the forseeable future and will be very hard pressed to occupy anyone else.

Free peoples of the earth may rejoice that Fox won't be covering an invasion of their soil in the immediate future.

That's not to say that the USAF won't be, er, spreading democracy from 15,000 ft...

Remember when Bush/media told us we had a "Coalition of the Willing"- where are they?