Mixed year on foreign policy

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Instability in Iraq, elections in Afghanistan, a dormant peace process in the Middle East, tense ties with Europe, attempts to stop Iran and North Korea from acquiring nuclear arms, genocide in Sudan, and the resignation of the secretary of State were the U.S. foreign policy highlights in 2004.

In Iraq, despite the continuing violence against U.S. and allied targets, the Bush administration managed to transfer power from a U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority to an interim Iraqi government. It is now working to ensure elections are held Jan. 30 though Iraqi Sunnis and Kurds are threatening to boycott the vote because of the fragile security situation.

Elections were successfully carried out in Afghanistan, marking that country's transition from a war-ravaged nation run by Islamic radicals to a member of the community of democratic nations. The United States continued its "war on terror" and searched for al-Qaida members, including Osama bin Laden, who are believed to be in hiding in the porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In the Middle East, the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians remained stalled for most of the year, but a sliver of hope emerged in November following the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whom the United States and Israel had refused to deal with. Earlier attempts by Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, known as Abu Ala, to restart talks failed partly because of militant attacks on Israel and retaliatory incursions by the Jewish state. U.S. officials from President George Bush down say they see Arafat's death as an opportunity to move ahead.

The Middle East and Iraq continued to be a source of friction between the United States and its European allies. The Europeans support a more conciliatory approach toward the Palestinians and critics say Washington's friendship with Israel prevents it from being an honest broker in the peace process. Europe also disagreed with the U.S. decision last year to invade Iraq and the war continues to be a sticking point across the Atlantic. The two sides did, however, coordinate bringing democracy to Afghanistan.

They are also united on the need to tackle Iran's alleged quest for nuclear weapons though they disagree on how to achieve it. Washington offered less than unequivocal support for a plan arranged by Britain, France and Germany -- the European Union-3 -- to persuade Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program. Washington wanted the Islamic republic to be referred to the U.N. Security Council for violating international commitments. That move failed. The United States says Iran has a clandestine nuclear weapons program, a charge Tehran denies.

Washington was able to marshal its allies to deal with the threats posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program, but by the end of the year those talks were on hold. Meetings were held in Beijing with participants from China, Japan, the two Koreas, Russia and the United States on ways to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. However, talks stopped at the end of the year when the world's only Stalinist state said it was awaiting a clearer U.S. position in a second Bush term before making a decision. Other members of the talks, especially South Korea, have urged greater U.S. flexibility while dealing with North Korea.

In the middle of the year, the Bush administration highlighted the violence in Sudan's Darfur region where government-backed Arab militia, called Janjaweed, attacked black African civilians. Washington described the violence as genocidal and persuaded the African Union to play a lead role in resolving the crisis. Despite cease-fire deals between the two sides, the violence continues. Washington also led the world in assistance to Darfur and pressured the Khartoum government to ease aid delivery to the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was the public face of U.S. diplomacy for the past four years, resigned last month following Bush's re-election. He was replaced by national security adviser Condoleezza Rice who will have confirmation hearings next month. Rumors of Powell's imminent departure from the State Department circulated for months as did reports of his differences with other members of the Bush Cabinet, including Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. At the time of his departure, a senior aide said: "He was not asked to stay. He was not asked to leave."

Other U.S. foreign policy highlights in 2004 were its successful role in the change of regime in Haiti, where it oversaw the departure to Africa of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide following instability in the island nation. Despite a new government, however, violence has continued to be a problem in Haiti.