Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: U.N. running from Iraq

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003 | 8:25 a.m.

UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL Kofi Annan and his colleagues want to play a bigger role in Iraq. His desire has been used for a demand of several nations that a greater U.N. role must be granted before they contribute money or troops.

Neither Kofi Annan nor the leaders of the nations dragging their feet are being entirely honest. The leader of any democratic nation has to pause before sending wealth or people into that mess. The political trouble both Tony Blair and George W. Bush are experiencing, because of what has happened since Saddam Hussein fell, isn't to their liking. Also, sending troops in as peacekeepers doesn't make good sense where true peace doesn't exist. Coalition troops being killed and wounded every day isn't an inviting situation.

Because of problems with terrorists and uncomfortable working conditions, the United Nations has reduced its staff and activities in and around Baghdad. Maggie Farley and Robin Wright of the Los Angeles Times reported on Friday, Sept. 26, the following:

"In an indication of Annan's concern about the instability in Iraq, the secretary-general announced Thursday that he would pull out most of the U.N.'s remaining international staff in the country after the second fatal attack in five weeks on the organization's Baghdad headquarters.

"After an attack Aug. 19 that killed more than 20 people and injured hundreds, Annan cut the number of U.N. workers from 650 to 86.

"A gradual withdrawal this week after a bombing near U.N. headquarters Monday that killed an Iraqi guard may leave only a skeleton crew of international staffers behind, and the world body will rely on its 4,232 Iraqi employees to carry out essential humanitarian services, spokesman Fred Eckhard said."

I have long been a supporter of the United Nations and have seen it provide care and comfort in parts of the world where there is conflict. Much of the success of that world organization has depended upon the top leadership. Annan has shown some signs of strength and promise that are encouraging. What he is now doing in Iraq is discouraging to say the least.

More than 13 years have passed since I last saw a badly run operation by the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees. It was the mishandling of people in the jungles of Honduras and Nicaragua. As I reported from Tegucigalpa, the brand-new vehicles parked in front of the most expensive rentals all carried the markings of the United Nations. Also, new U.N. helicopters took personnel from the city in the morning but always rushed back in the afternoon in time for cocktails and dinner.

Unlike the Organization of American States, the United Nations used food as a weapon to force refugees out of isolated camps. I watched, despite U.N. objections, more than 900 women, babies, elderly and disabled airlifted out of Pista Nueva Camp in the jungles of Bocay, Honduras. The only bright spot in the entire operation was the warm and competent treatment of the evacuees by the U.S. military people providing the transportation.

The evacuees were taken for a 25-minute trip in giant Chinook helicopters over the mountains to a barren field near Las Vegas, Honduras, where 37 tents without walls awaited them. This resulted in a paragraph with the following question and answers in a column:

"So why did these Nicaraguan Resistance families allow themselves to be taken out to the field near Las Vegas? Because the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees gave them three choices. They could stay where they were and starve, attempt the 20-to-30 day hike through the jungles into a safe area in Nicaragua or go to the refugee camp near Las Vegas. The first two choices would have meant certain death for babies and little children because the trek is at least 15 days for a healthy combat soldier."

The United Nations is a valuable world organization that has helped millions of people. Under strong leadership, without a biased political agenda, it should continue in this role. Right now the organization is showing little leadership and less backbone in meeting the health and welfare needs of Iraqi people.