Positive steps for Iraq

President Bush received an impressive victory Tuesday at the United Nations. The U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting a new Iraqi government and expressed their full intention to help direct Iraq toward democratic elections next year.\nThis victory brings us a step further toward getting our policy in Iraq back on course after a number of staggering defeats in winning the peace.\nBut more than a unanimous resolution will be needed to help Iraq. Two issues have arisen in the past few days that may help or hurt Iraq during this transition period. \nBush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are seeking a larger role for NATO in the early stages of Iraq's sovereignty, a long overdue move to increase the involvement of the the international community. Some NATO countries seem hesitant and already have given as many troops as possible. But transforming Iraq into an international operation is a crucial step toward improving the operation's image.\nTension is also building between Iraq's Shiite majority and Kurdish minority, who are threatening to boycott the interim government. The assimilation must be made tenuously, and the Kurds need to be reassured that they are included equally in the process. \nThese issues need to be handled with care to ensure more positive steps. Fewer defeats might someday result in a country able to contain itself.