Yet another crushing defeat for the US diplomatic corps:
The Security Council voted unanimously today to adopt a resolution on the future of Iraq, handing the United States a major diplomatic victory in its campaign to gather wider international contributions of troops and money for the rebuilding effort.
In a press conference after the 10:50 a.m. vote, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell called the action “a great achievement for the entire Security Council to come together again in this manner.”
Russia, France and Germany, all of which opposed the war and had been threatening to abstain from today’s vote, agreed to back the measure, saying they were acting in the interest of council unity.
Andrew Lazarus
Let’s see just how much men and money come in before throwing the party.
cameron
Men?
“But in a blow to Washington’s hopes that the resolution would attract troops and money for Iraq to ease the burden of American forces, the German and French leaders said all three ruled out any military commitments for now.”
Money?
“French diplomats said France and Germany have agreed to train Iraqi police either in the country or in Europe, but declined to say how much their financial contribution would be to that training program. They said both countries will attend the Oct. 23-24 donors’ conference in Madrid, Spain, however.”
I don’t think we will know the money answer till the donor’s conference.
But,
“Schroeder said he, French President Jacques Chirac and Russian President Vladimir Putin made their decision during a 45-minute conference call.
“We agreed that the resolution is really an important step in the right direction,” he said.
Looks like this is an agreement on agreeing, and not much else.
But at least it is a start.
ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAHJJ4UULD.html