The U.S. is eager for the UN to return to Iraq to provide political cover for itsoccupation. The quagmire on the ground in Iraq plus recognition that the rest of the world, and most Iraqisthemselves, reject Washington's claim of legitimacy is the basis for the Bush administration reversing itsearlier anti-UN positions to beg the international organization for help. Kofi Annan's decision to send atechnical investigative team to Iraq is partly in response to mounting pressure from the U.S., but also aresponse to shifting sentiments among Iraqis, particularly the call from Ayatollah al-Sistani for a UNassessment of political conditions. While Annan's announcement indicated he was responding to the request ofthe U.S. occupation authorities and its hand-picked "governing council" to determine whetherelections could be held by Washington's June 30th deadline, he left open the possibility of a broaderdefinition of "what alternative arrangement would be acceptable" if not.