Two great men, Sergio Vieira de Mello and Arthur Helton, were among the 20 people who died in the explosion at the United Nations in Iraq this week.

Sergio Vieira de Mello, United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights and leader of the UN efforts in Iraq, had helped bring stability and self governance to Kosovo and East Timor and was beginning his work to accomplish the same end in Iraq. Mr. de Mello accomplished much with limited resources by inspiring exceptional commitments and cooperation. His leadership style demonstrated generosity and confidence.

Mr. de Mello's last moments were in the company of another accomplished public servant, attorney and human rights activist, Arthur Helton, Director of Peace and Conflict Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. Helton was in Iraq to write a report on the conditions of the people. I had the privilege of working with Mr. Helton several weeks ago in San Francisco at the leadership meeting of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association where he chaired a round table discussion on what should be our priority concerns in the coming year. Mr. Helton ensured that the discussion was inclusive, thorough, and focused on effective measures. He lived his life working to highlight the condition of refugees and the disenfranchised to help create a just and more inclusive social order where peace and stability is obtained by progress and hope. He helped lead the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights where he worked for 12 years.

The world has lost two individuals who worked to create social change without violence. They both worked to improve human rights for all. May we honor their memories by carrying on their work with the qualities of selfless service and courage that they evidenced. May God embrace their souls, as well as those others who died with them, with infinite peace, love and tranquility.

While it is in a state of mourning, the international community is placed in a very difficult conundrum. The United States is requesting the UN to endorse force deployment for Iraq from countries such as Pakistan and India to beef up the troop deployments under exclusive US supervision. Such an endorsement could be interpreted as support for the US driven occupation. Again, we come back to an essential issue: Is the United States serious about nation building?