The Security Council voted on Friday to broaden the U.N. mandate in Iraq and raised the allowable ceiling of U.N. international staff in Iraq significantly.
Under pressure from the United States to take a bigger role in stabilizing Iraq, the United Nations agreed Friday to expand its mission despite unrelenting violence that could complicate its work.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Frequent tours for U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan have stressed the all-volunteer force and made it worth considering a return to a military draft, President Bush's new war adviser said Friday.
As of Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, at least 3,684 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians. At least 3,030 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.
The Security Council voted unanimously Friday to expand the U.N. role in Iraq and opened the door for the world body to promote talks to ease Iraq's sectarian bloodshed.
The Security Council on Friday unanimously agreed to expand the UN mission in Iraq despite the high level of insecurity in the country and resistance by United Nations staff.
Despite frequent statements by President Bush and his political allies that U.S. troops are making progress in the Iraq war, the conflict remains highly unpopular among most Americans.
The Security Council voted on Friday to give the United Nations an expanded political role in Iraq, promoting reconciliation between its rival factions and dialogue with neighboring countries.
Talk about whether Iraq's government will survive is taboo among U.S. officials, but experts and diplomats say the hobbled coalition is in big trouble and the betting is it won't last.
The Security Council voted Friday to expand the United Nations' role in Iraq in a move aimed at promoting talks among ethnic and religious rivals and winning support from the country's neighbors.