Reconstruction of Iraq Term Paper

Iraq Reconstruction

Reconstruction of Iraq: UN or U.S. Responsibility?

Three years ago, the world had witnessed two significant events that determined the fate of two of the most powerful nations in the world: the World Trade Center bombing in United States, and, consequently, the U.S. offensive against Iraq in March 2002 (Gulf War II). These events have eventually led to the oust of Saddam Hussein, incumbent dictator/leader of Iraq and the temporary take-over of the United States government in the country. A clearinghouse had been conducted, where the U.S. military, along with its allies, arrested all of Hussein's Royal Army and government members.

Furthermore, a 'rehabilitation' project was formulated, where the U.S. government tried to maintain peace and security in the country while providing Iraqis with their basic needs -- food, clothing, shelter, and a secure job for everyone.

It is evident that these programs made by the U.S. government is but an initial step toward its primary objective -- that is, developing Iraq as a democratic country in the Middle East. Furthermore, this rehabilitation or reconstruction program attempts to make, not only Iraq, but all Middle Eastern nations a democratic nation. However, due to hostilities against the U.S. By the Middle Eastern nations, its reconstruction program has been confined to Iraq only. Thus, because U.S. is generally recognized around the world as the bastion of democracy, then it is but natural that the United States should spearhead the international community's attempt to reconstruct and ensure peace, unity, and stability in Iraq.

However, as was mentioned earlier, because there have been apparent hostilities between the U.S.And Middle Eastern nations, which are mostly Islamic societies (such as Saudi Arabia and Iran), there are contentions whether U.S. will be able to successfully reconstruct Iraq, especially now that is facing political and military problems due to recent reports on Iraqi prisoners' abuses and tortures by the U.S. military.

With these disadvantages, the best institution, it seems, that can answer the Iraqis' need for stability and security is the United Nations, an international organization of countries. Since the UN is composed of alliances among different countries, it is considered as a neutral institution that will effectively deliver the needs of the Iraqis.

Indeed, according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator Mark Brown (2003), asserts that "the effectiveness of the U.S. abroad requires a strong United Nations." This is in light of the fact that the U.S. harbors two weaknesses in the international political community: (1) it has a weak or "flawed" foreign policy and (2) it has relatively weak international relations with other UN-member countries in the issue of Gulf War II.

The first weakness pointed out by Brown refers to the U.S. government's 'propensity' to mishandle rehabilitation programs abroad; a case in point is the failure of the U.S. government during the 1970s to 'save' South Vietnam from the Communist influence of North Vietnam. A similar even….....