On August 4th, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution sixteen-eighteen, which condemns terrorist attacks in Iraq. A recent wave of assaults in the country has killed more than one-hundred people, including dozens of children, election workers, diplomats, and Iraqi and non-Iraqi civilians. Referring to the attacks as "shameless and horrific," the resolution urges member states "to prevent the transit of terrorists to and from Iraq, arms for terrorists, and financing that would support terrorists."
The resolution also "reemphasizes the importance of strengthening the cooperation of the countries in the region, particularly neighbors in Iraq." U.S. Ambassador to the U-N, John Bolton, is calling on Iran and Syria, in particular, to act:
"We call upon the governments of Syria and Iran to honor their commitments to assist Iraq, and to implement the pledges they have made to support stability in Iraq. . . .We urge all U-N member states, especially in the Arab world, to come forward and support the Iraqi people at this critical point."
Ambassador Bolton says that despite the horrific attacks, Iraqis continue to work on drafting a new constitution and are planning for the upcoming elections. The U-N resolution, he says, recognizes that Iraqis are facing the same terrorist threat other countries are facing.
President George W. Bush says that foreign fighters are going into Iraq "for a reason":
"It's that movement toward freedom that frightens the enemy. It's that movement toward a free society in which people of different religious persuasions can live in peace together. It's that movement that says, women have got equal rights with men that frightens these people. But that movement is going forward."
President Bush says that terrorism will not make the United States retreat from helping the Iraqi people achieve their goal. Mr. Bush says the terrorists "do not understand our desire to protect ourselves…to protect our allies, and to spread freedom around the world."
The preceding was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government.
