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Iraq
Iraqi opposition makes chicken count
2003-03-24
A prominent figure close to the Supreme Assembly of Iraq Islamic Revolution (SAIIR) Seyed Mohsen Hakim, told IRNA in a telephone interview from Iraqi Kurdistan's Sulaymaniyeh on Monday of near future developments in which the dissidents would play a decisive role. He said that the General Assembly of the SAIIR would convene in Sulaymaniyeh on Tuesday, March 25, adding, "the members of the leadership council have been engaged in intensive consultations with each other and all involved parties in Iraq crisis during the past few days. Hakim said, "in their meetings that were bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral, the Iraqi dissidents' leaders discussed various issues, including the latest developments in Iraq crisis following the beginning of the US-British forces' military attack."
So far, they've been doing a lot more talking than fighting...
He said that among the other issues discussed during the previous days was how to make the committees of the leadership council more dynamic, how to arrange the chairs, the color of wallpaper, and other issues related to those councils. A delegation from the Supreme Assembly of the Iraq Islamic Revolution, led by Seyed's Dad Abdolaziz Hakim, left Tehran for northern parts of Iraq to take part at the meeting. During the second conference of the Iraq dissidents in Salaheddin held from February (26-28), the Follow Up Committee of the Iraqi dissidents chose a five-man Supreme Leadership council. They included the leader of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Jalal Talabani, member of the Leadership Council of National Congress of Iraq Ahmad Chalabi, former Iraqi foreign minister in 1960s Adnan Pachechi, member of the Supreme Assembly of the Iraq Islamic Revolution Seyed Abdolaziz Hakim, and member of the National Unity Movement Ayad Alavi. The second Salaheddin conference also commissioned 14 committees to take control of Iraq's post-Saddam affairs and to fill the political vacuum during the transitional period.
It's no goddamn wonder they haven't gotten rid of Sammy — though I'm surprised they haven't formed a committee to talk him to death by now...
Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#3  The Kurds have fought - and are almost certainly working with Spec Ops right now. As for the south, im not sure coalition military wants the opposition doing anything yet. It certainly seems like we've been underutilizing them. I certainly think we dont want hem moving around on thier own, without coordinating with Spec Ops.

I would also point out that when they did fight, in April 1991, they were slaughtered by the Republican Guards, while we looked on.

Yeah they spend time in commitees - they're trying to work out a future govt - seems reasonable enough. (maybe we should have spent MORE time on commitee meetings involving Kurds, Iraqis, and Turks - maybe if we had done so the 4th ID would be fighting now, instead of on ships)

I hope we dont discount the Iraqi opposition, and end up either with prolonged US military rule, or a Baathist general instead. If so the liberation will fail, and so will our grand strategic efforts.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2003-03-25 10:21:57  

#2  What this sounds like is a "What's in it for me." meeting. That's what it ALWAYS comes down to.
Posted by: tu3031   2003-03-24 22:21:05  

#1  Are these the same guys who were complaining that W would choose their flag? One would think w/20 years of meetings they'd not only have a flag, but a plan in place.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-03-24 21:03:00  

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