Iraq Asking Arab Nations for Troops

Iraq is asking non-neighboring Arab countries to provide troops to protect the UN mission - Egypt being a prime example.

"We asked Egypt to make the necessary contacts with leaders of some Arab and Islamic countries to contribute forces to protect the UN mission," Prime Minister Iyad Allawi told reporters after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

This is quite an astute move on the part of PM Allawi. This bolsters support of the Iraqi government by other Arab nations' people and government, while creating an impression that the UN mission is not an American protected entity, but an Arab protected entity. Any attacks on the mission will be seen as attacks on other Arabs - or as attacks against other Arab nations.