Title: A solitary war : a diplomat's chronicle of the Iraq war and its lessons /
Authors: Muñoz, Heraldo.
Publisher: Fulcrum,
Year: 2008
Subjects: United Nations Iraq.; Iraq War, 2003-2011 Diplomatic history.; Iraq War, 2003-2011 Participation, European.; United States Politics and government; Europe Politics and government; Iraq Politics and government
Abstract: Beginning with a "telling phone call from Condi," the former president of the UN Security Council tells for the first time the behind-the-scenes story of the Iraq war, as seen from an international perspective. Ambassador Munoz examines the United States' controversial decision to take a unilateral stand and the repercussions for both the U.S. and the rest of the world. This fascinating book explains why a multilateral approach to foreign policy, including reliance on international organizations such as the UN, is imperative in today's world. A Solitary War offers a compelling argument for rebuilding trust among the international community and returning to a truly cooperative global order.
Contents: Foreword / by Kofi Annan -- Introduction -- Early warnings -- A telling phone call from Condi -- A war with multilateral support -- One, two, three Iraqs : the costs of the unilateralist doctrine -- War games in the United Nations : a tale of missed opportunities -- Resolution to act -- A tug of war -- The Blair-Lagos last-ditch effort -- The final diplomatic bets -- High noon in Iraq : diplomacy fails -- Unilateralism in retreat : the hard task of winning the peace in Iraq -- Multilateralism under fire -- The war deepens : the UN is a target -- A turn toward tactical multilateralism -- Why multilateralism matters : the United Nations enables the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq and the 2005 elections -- A sense of loss of direction and moral defeat -- Negotiating the establishment of the Iraqi interim government -- The end of occupation? -- The 2005 elections and the Nouri al-Maliki government -- Worlds apart : the alienation of allies -- Chile : the distant neighbor -- Mexico : "so far from God, so close to the United States" -- The transatlantic divide with the "old Europe" -- Less-than-willing allies and the failed evidence to go to war -- Conclusions : the U.S war backtrack and the future of multilateralism -- The costs of a war without friends -- A changing attitude toward the United Nations -- Why the United States should care about multilateralism -- Beyond Iraq : to lead or to impose.