Speeches and Articles by Former Consul General James R. Keith

International Humanitarian Relief in Post-War Iraq

By U.S. Consul General James Keith

(The Chinese version of this article was published and translated by Ming Pao on April 9, 2003, and this article is not for commercial use.)

The United States seeks to consolidate peace and stability, expand free markets, and strengthen democratic societies throughout the world in the face of continuing threats from organized terror networks. Success will require our unyielding unity among members of the international community to build on shared interests, including in the reconstruction of Iraq.

As President Bush has emphasized repeatedly, our conflict in Iraq is with Saddam Hussein's regime, not with the Iraqi people. The U.S. is committed to the goal of a unified Iraq, with democratic institutions that treat all ethnic and religious groups with dignity and respect. We intend to work closely with the international community, including the United Nations and our coalition partners, to achieve this vision.

Coalition forces in Iraq have taken unprecedented steps to limit the humanitarian consequences of a conflict with Iraq and to provide comprehensive relief as quickly as possible to the Iraqi people. We are resolved to act with an appropriate sense of urgency to ensure that humanitarian goods now in the pipeline are available for delivery to the people of Iraq as soon as that can be safely accomplished. A resolution has been passed authorizing the United Nations Secretary General to take steps to run the Oil-for-Food program, which supplies ninety percent of Iraqis' food. Sixty percent of Iraqis are completely dependent on these food rations.

Following the conflict, an international effort will be necessary to meet Iraq's reconstruction needs. The U.S. is conferring with the international community and the United Nations as to how we can accomplish this goal. We intend to work cooperatively with nations around the world and we believe there is strong international support for this effort on behalf of the Iraqi people.

President Bush has requested an additional $2.4 billion for relief and reconstruction from the U. S. Congress. The U.S. government has already spent over $240 million on relief activities. We are supporting many international non-governmental organizations and U.N. agencies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the International Organization for Migration.

We are actively preparing for humanitarian outreach and relief efforts by communicating and coordinating with U.S. and international humanitarian organizations and funding their preparatory efforts. These organizations will deliver a broad range of humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. There is work ahead for all member states of the United Nations, specialized agencies of the UN and international relief agencies, and other non-governmental organizations, and universities and educational organizations.

As soon as coalition forces stabilize Iraq, the Iraqis will need the support of the international community to reconstruct and rehabilitate a country devastated by years of totalitarian abuses. We will need to unite to ensure that our help is well-timed, sensible, and effective. The wealthy economies of Asia have an important role to play. Ultimately, we hope for the transformation of Iraq after Saddam Hussein into a free, just and civil society with guaranteed respect for individual dignity and individual rights. We hope for welcome relief for the Iraqi people from the intolerable burden of Saddam Hussein's misrule as well as the creation of a stable and just society in Iraq that will be a mainstay for the region.