April 28, 2003 | KU Radio News Line

Audio


Contact: Frank Barthell, University Relations, (785) 864-8869.

Radio News Line text:
KU historian says Iraq reconstruction should involve United Nations

THE POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION OF IRAQ SHOULD INVOLVE THE UNITED NATIONS IN SOME CAPACITY, ACCORDING TO TED WILSON, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PROFESSOR OF HISTORY.

WILSON RESEARCHES MILITARY AND INTERNATIONAL HISTORY OF THE WORLD WAR TWO AND COLD WAR ERAS, AND CO-EDITED A BOOK CALLED "VICTORY IN EUROPE 1945: FROM WORLD WAR TO COLD WAR," PUBLISHED IN 2000.

WILSON SAYS THE UNITED STATES' EFFORTS TO REBUILD IRAQ WILL BE MORE CREDIBLE IF THE UNITED NATIONS PARTNERS IN THE ENDEAVOR.
WILSON: "The motives of the United States are suspect -- right or wrong, fair or unfair, they are suspect. The participation of a broader range of nations ideally through the United Nations in the reconstruction of Iraq is in my view necessary." (17 sec.)

WITHOUT UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE, WILSON QUESTIONS WHETHER THE UNITED STATES HAS THE ABILITY TO REBUILD IRAQ ON ITS OWN.
WILSON: "If we are talking about the kind of short-term massive effort to bring about the reconstruction of Iraq, I don't think we have the resources to do it ourselves. Or at least the American taxpayer is not going to be prepared to write the check that would make that possible." (14 sec.)

WILSON SAYS ENSURING THE SAFETY OF HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS IS THE FIRST STEP IN RECONSTRUCTION OF IRAQ.
WILSON: "The establishment of law and order, of stability, so that UNESCO and other UN organizations and the Red Cross will feel comfortable about operating is a first matter." (10 sec.)

WHILE THE SEARCH FOR SADDAM HUSSEIN MAY CONTINUE, WILSON DOES NOT BELIEVE IT IS CRITICAL TO FIND THE FORMER IRAQI LEADER DEAD OR ALIVE.
WILSON: "But it may be that the ripping down of the posters and pictures and the toppling of the statues will serve for the Iraqi people to confirm the disappearance of the regime. And it may not be crucial that his body is found or that he's found and brought to some trial." (19 sec.)

PRICELESS ARTIFACTS HAVE BEEN LOOTED FROM THE IRAQI NATIONAL MUSEUM IN BAGHDAD. WILSON IS DISAPPOINTED THAT THE COALITION DIDN'T PLACE GREATER THOUGHT INTO PROTECTING IRAQ'S NATIONAL TREASURES.
WILSON: "It is tragic as we've now seen all those images of the Iraqi National Museum of the plundering of the antiquities; one would have thought there could have been more attention to those issues as well." (15 sec.)

WILSON SAYS SUPPORTERS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL NOT MOUNT ANY SERIOUS ARMED RESISTANCE TO COALITION FORCES. HE SAYS IT MAY COME FROM ARAB NATIONALS IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.
WILSON: "What's most worrisome, of course, is whether there will be a continuing influx of the young men that we have seen board buses in the last several weeks from Syria and Lebanon and Jordan and other countries to take part in this struggle against what they perceive to be a Western or American occupation of an Arab country." (21 sec.)

-30-


This site is maintained by University Relations, the public relations office for the University of Kansas Lawrence campus. Copyright 2003, the University of Kansas Office of University Relations. Images and information may be reused with notice of copyright, but not altered. kurelations@ku.edu, (785) 864-3256.