"Well, well--in 4 days, Strick, you've realized there is a role for the UN after all---unless of course you plan to waffle yet again."

I don't see the contradiction. Someone else insists the UN get involved and then complains when we try to get them involved because the situation is a mess. Damned if we try to get them involved now, damned if we don't. My mother always said that when you're in that situation you might as well make your own choice. Given that they're irrelevant, I say fine, we won't bother those nice people. What's not to understand?

So petr, those countries would have forgiven the Iraqis debts run up under Saddam (money that went for palaces and weapons) if they had been bribed by reconstruction contracts? As Metchosin points out, reconstruction's not that much money given all the other costs. Or is it that hard to imagine that countries that wouldn't cooperate in one part of this might not cooperate in the next? If they aren't willing, they aren't willing. I keep thinking of the little red hen.

Yes, petr, Bush called the UN irrelevant. History shows it is, too and was before all this started. Your point?