Washington: The Bush administration has【L1】______for the first time that it

Washington: The Bush administration has signaled for the first time that it may be willing to allow a multinational force in Iraq to operate under the sponsorship of the United Nations as long as it is commanded by an American.
    The idea was described by Richard L. Armitage, the deputy secretary of state, as just "one idea being explored" in discussions at the United Nations. It was first hinted at publicly last week by Kofi Annan, the United Nations’ secretary general.
    Mr. Armitage’s remarks, made on Tuesday to regional reporters and released by the State Department today, represent a potential shift in course for the administration, which has until now insisted that all military, economic and political matters in Iraq remain under total American control. Allowing the United Nations a leadership role would be intended to win the support of the Security Council for a new mandate authorizing the American-led occupation of the country.
    In his remarks, Mr. Armitage declined to discuss the plans in any detail, saying, "I don’t think it helps to throw them out publicly right now." But he described the arrangement under consideration as "a multinational force under UN. leadership" in which "the American would be the U.N. commander."
    On Monday, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was asked whether he could envision American troops fighting under United Nations’ command. His answer: "I think that’s not going to happen." But he went on to rule out only "a blue-hatted leadership" meaning by the United Nations, whose troops wear blue helmets over a peacekeeping force in Iraq.