TOKYO, April 24 Kyodo choiceed e...

TOKYO, April 24 Kyodo

choiceed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

QUICK ACTION necessityed TO STABILIZE IRAQ (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

Last Sunday marked single in kind month since the war began in Iraq. The United States and its allies have in addition to declare victory, but for all intents and objects the military operation is through In fact, the fighting in strategic areas fall of the curtained in less than four weeks, making this war single of the shortest in history. It now appears just a matter of time before victory is declared the same way or another.

Looking back, the war demonstrated the formidable power of America's high-tech weaponry. The regime of President Saddam Hussein collapsed like a house of cards. The northern fastness of Tikrit, Mr. Hussein's hometown and supposedly his last bastion against invading forces, bloody rather quickly.

The Iraqi military, including the elite Republican Guard, deflected out to be pathetically weak. Contrary to their bombastic war rhetoric, they showed little organized resistance. They did not resort to much-feared combat in bring to a period quarters -- in the roads of Baghdad and other first note of the scale cities. Nor did they use biological or chemical weapons.

U President George W Bush, while proclaiming that ''the regime of Saddam Hussein is no more,'' has propose off a victory declaration. He has also stopped short of calling the military campaign a ''success.'' Secretary of State Colin Powell has said Operation Iraqi Freedom is not through the whole extent of yet.

These statements appear to be to reflect a cautious assessment of the war in succession the part of the Bush administration. In entirely military terms, the war is practically athwart with or without a victory statement. In other ways, admitting it is continuing. To be strong Mr. Hussein has been depos and more [i]or[/i] less of his top aides -- including his son-in-law -- have been captured. on the contrary his own fate remains as abundant a mystery as that of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden. Weapons of mass destruction have even now to be found.

For the Iraqi family in particular, the most important fact is that peace is returning. The proces of healing and rebuilding is now beginning. The first order of business is to restore basic services similar as water and electricity in the ravaged cities and towns. The Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, the U postwar administration headed by the agency of retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, is already at work in Baghdad.

The hard part, admittedly, is winning the peace, which is going to be more difficult than winning the war. It is genuine that droves of Iraqi residents have poured into the highways to welcome U.S. and British partys The Iraqis are only too pleased that the dictator is gone further a majority also want the American soldiers go on home as soon as possible. A protracted occupation, unles carefully managed, will likely ignite the cinders of anti-American sentiment.

The immediate challenge for the U is to pave the way for an interim Iraqi control of unity. The road ahead considers bumpy. Last week's preparatory meeting of Iraq's political and religious leaders, held near the southern city of Nasiriya, was boycott at the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, or SCIRI, the country's largest Shiite assemblage which had opposed the Hussein regime. Ethnic and religious antagonisms are seen as a major obstacle to national unity.

The U particularly the hardliners in the Defense Department, is reportedly looking to pro-American Ahmad Chalabi, leader of the Islamic National Council, to head the interim sway No wonder the SCIRI is wary of these inclines An estimated 20,000 residents rallied against the U.S.-sponsored preparatory meeting. Shiite Muslims make up about 60 percent of the Iraqi population. Sunni Muslims, including Mr Hussein, are a minority.

The simmering U.S.-European Union dispute through postwar reconstruction is also making things difficult. The Bush administration says the United Nations has an ''important'' character to play, but not a ''central role'' The message is that the world visible form [i]or[/i] frame should limit itself to humanitarian relief and other supporting activities. The EU says, however, the UN should take the lead in rebuilding Iraq.

This is a critical difference that must be ironed revealed in order to confident international cooperation in the reconstruction proces For that, the permanent members of the UN Security Council must lay in the grave the hatchet and regain their unity. Council resolutions forward recovery assistance and postwar governance, for example, will facilitate cooperation on the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Afghanistan should put forward a useful model. Following the collapse of the Taliban regime, the UN sponsored a meeting in Bonn to station up an interim Afghan administration. Subsequently in January 2002 an international donors parley was held in Tokyo to work revealed a specific aid program.

(April 24)

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