Big challenge ahead for Iraq now

The U.N. concedes “the reconciliation process remains delicate.”

As a particularly encouraging sign, more displaced or refugee families are returning home. Since early 2008, some 50,000 families, mostly internally displaced, have come back to Iraq.

Humanitarian assistance for refugees living abroad (mostly in Jordan and Syria) as well as those internally displaced in Iraq remains a major item for international donors.

Even today the World Food Program is providing aid for 630,000 internally displaced people inside the country.

Still the security situation precludes a wider operations for the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). Given devastating bomb attacks on the U.N. Baghdad headquarters in 2003, the world body still has a very limited “footprint” inside Iraq itself.

The report stresses, “The recovery of Iraq is entering a different phase — as the security situation improves, the United Nations will continue to strive to expand its presence and activities in Iraq consistent with the needs of Iraq.”

The report warns poignantly “However Iraq remains a challenging operating environment, and the safety and security of United Nations personnel” remains a priority.

Iraq's semblance of security has come at a high price in American blood, sweat, tears and treasure.

It evolved in no small part thanks to the success of the military surge, the strategy of General David Petraeus, and to the enduring sacrifices of the multinational coalition forces; Americans, British, Poles, Australians and two dozen other countries who did not blink nor falter when the insurgency was at its zenith. It equally rested with the Bush Administration's largely unpopular political commitment to Iraq, and the Obama Administration's stoic acceptance of the need to go slow in troop withdrawals.

As Ambassador al-Bayti told delegates, “National reconciliation remains a top priority for my government.” That priority should extend to the U.S. Congress as well.

John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues.

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