Saudi Arabia's proposal to send a Muslim multination security force to Iraq could accomplish what the United States has been unable to finesse on its own. No Arab country belongs to the U.S.-led coalition that recently shrank from 36 to 31 members. Muslims are believed scarce among coalition troops.

Since the United States handed over political control to the Iraqis a month ago and the United Nations at last gave its approval to the multinational force, the United Nations and Muslim states should show some backbone and come to the aid of Iraq's embattled government.

The United States should retain command of the multinational force as long as U.S. troops remain in Iraq, but Muslim nations could either join coalition troops, organize as a separate force or merge with a security unit designed to protect U.N. personnel returning to Iraq. Several Muslim leaders already have signaled they would not participate unless the United Nations passed a resolution authorizing a joint Muslim force.

The Saudis want it understood that the Muslim force would exclude Iraq's neighbors. That would preclude either Saudi Arabia or Iran from sending troops. No one wants troops from Iran, Iraq's longtime enemy, and it is evident the Saudis do not want to send their own troops, although they reportedly promised $1 billion in aid to Iraq. Pakistan, which controls one of the biggest armies in the Islamic world, is considering sending troops to Iraq. The Arab TV network al-Jazeera on Wednesday reported two Pakistanis were killed by kidnappers in Iraq.

Responsible Muslim leaders have been mostly missing in action in Iraq while murderous Islamic insurgents have slaughtered innocent bystanders with suicide bombings, and taken hostage and beheaded guest workers who were helping to rebuild the country's shattered economy. Iraq's interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi urged Islamic countries to "stand as one group" against terrorist "forces of evil" and welcomed a Saudi-led Muslim force to help stabilize his country.

Saudi officials recognize an unstable Iraq hurts Saudi Arabia. Terrorists from Iraq have been crossing into the Saudi kingdom and attacking there. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah proposed the Muslim security force to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in hopes it would help stabilize Iraq and speed the withdrawal of coalition troops. Powell, according to the Washington Post, called the proposal "an interesting idea, a welcome idea."

It could be a godsend, if the Saudis can sell it to the Islamic world. A Muslim force would further dispel perceptions of Iraq as still under Western occupation, and, even if Muslim troops would be victimized by suicide bombings or kidnappings, it would make even clearer that the terrorists crave power only for themselves and don't care how many innocents they slaughter to get it.

Muslim leaders want U.S. troops to go home as much as the troops do. A joint Muslim security force could help bring that withdrawal date closer.