US: A call to the international community to provide troops and cash for the stabilisation and reconstruction of Iraq will be made by the US President, Mr George W. Bush, at the opening of this year's General Assembly debate at the United Nations tomorrow, writes Deaglán de Bréadún, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, in New York
The difficulties and counter-violence encountered by the US-led occupation forces have made governments reluctant to get involved.
The international community was split by the US decision to invade and differences on the approach for the future still remain.
The president will reiterate his point, made in last year's speech at the same venue, that the United Nations must rise to the challenge of global security and stability or become irrelevant.
While many leaders agree with this in principle, they will have difficulty with the fine print, including the precise terms of any mandate for a UN military mission to Iraq.
With the 2004 presidential election campaign already under way, the rise in US casualties combined with the high costs of the occupation is already causing political problems for the president.
The White House envisages a cost of $87 billion to the US taxpayer but the final figure could be much higher if the world community does not come to Mr Bush's assistance.
The president's national security adviser, Ms Condoleezza Rice, said the UN had to demonstrate that it was "actually capable of acting, and really willing to act, and not just debating".
However, the Mr Bush is likely to find it an uphill struggle trying to win the international community over to his viewpoint. Many of the negative consequences predicted internationally in the event of an Iraqi invasion have come to pass and the UN is not in the mood to be particularly helpful.
Even if a UN military mission was established, it would almost certainly be under a US commander, since the US would be the largest contingent in the UN force.
Nevertheless, indications at the weekend were that Mr Bush would not adopt an emollient or apologetic tone in his General Assembly oration.
He believes the US did the right thing in Iraq and that the rest of the world needs to acknowledge that a peaceful Iraq as part of a stable Middle East is in everyone's interest.
France has led calls for a rapid end to the US occupation and speedy restoration of Iraqi sovereignty, preferably within months.
Negotiations on the Security Council have not, so far, produced an agreed resolution on the UN's role. Mr Bush, therefore, faces the General Assembly tomorrow without an agreed UN position.
The US was reportedly hoping for a force of between 10,000 and 15,000 UN troops, but US Defence Secretary, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, indicated he does not expect that many. Observers believe the main suppliers of troops would probably be India and Turkey.
Mr Bush will also urge further assistance towards the rebuilding of Afghanistan, which is still recovering from war and the Taliban regime. He will also hold a meeting with the President of Afghanistan, Mr Hamid Kharzai.
Mr Bush will also call for a halt to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and an end to slavery all over the world, especially trafficking in women.
The president will hold two days of meetings with world leaders in New York, including French President Mr Jacques Chirac of France, German Chancellor Mr Gerhard Schröder, Indian Prime Minister Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Pakistani leader Gen Pervez Musharraf.
The UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, will also speak tomorrow. He is likely to dwell at some length on the implications of the suicide bomb attack on UN headquarters in Baghdad and the need for a proper mandate if the UN is to play a fuller role in Iraq.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern will address the General Assembly on Thursday.