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| Iraq |
| Iraqis map out country's future |
| 2003-04-29 |
| Iraqis across the political spectrum said yesterday they would try to set up an interim government in one month as the US pledged to bring democracy to Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Around 250 delegates reached agreement to hold a national congress within four weeks that would elect the first Iraqi government after the fall of Saddam's 24-year reign. "Hopefully, we will have this national meeting that will select or elect the interim authority," said Zalmay Khalilzad, the top US envoy to Iraq's emerging political movements. The announcement came as sharp divisions emerged between exiles who have lived away from Iraq for years, who favour a quick US exit, and locals who suffered under Saddam and are doubtful over their preparedness to lead the nation. "It is our responsibility to start the process of the birth of democracy in Iraq here today," said retired US general Jay Garner, the man in charge of Iraq until a new government is formed. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #6 Remember that there are a lot of reasons that you go into exile, not all of them due to purity of heart. Most of the time it's because your set of crooks is on the outs and another set of crooks is on the ins. (See also, Cuba/Batista, Haiti, Panama, and nearly all of West Africa) That's why you want the foreigners out. So you can go ahead with the business of making yourself rich. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-04-29 18:37:04 |
| #5 Flash - CNN reports sources say associate of Zaraqawi, Jordanian linked to Al Qaida and implicated in murder of US diplo Foley in Amman, captured in west baghdad. Posting this here in your honor, TGA. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-04-29 16:16:19 |
| #4 TGA - yes the gulf states and others will have to participate as well - to the extent that Iraq has creditors that themselves have severe financial problems, the developed world may have to help out. Can the US and Iraq ask for this and still freeze the weasels out of all contracts and influence = of course not. the question is what will the weasels need to give, and what will they get. The weasels want A. Reconstruction contracts B. Oil contracts C. Some say (through the UN) over the political process in Iraq The US/Iraqi side wants A. Debt forgiveness B. Immediate end to sanctions C. Support for the poltical process. Can the US all it wants while giving the weasels none of they want - no, there will have to be give and take. But the fact that Iraqis are asking for the end to sanctions and debt forgiveness, and seem to be happy with the US involvement in the political process, certainly adds weight to the US side of the give and take. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-04-29 15:28:19 |
| #3 I agree that Germany should waive Iraq's debt (4bn) and France (8bn) and Russia (8bn) should do the same. As far as I understand it, the sums don't include interests that haven't been paid since the 70s. So frankly I don't know which sums we are talking about but they have probably be written off already secretly. Fresh business is what we need. But to ask Russia, France and Germany to waive billions and then shove it and leave it to the U.S./UK to make money in debtless Iraq doesn't sound like a proposal that is going to work. And from what I read Iraq may owe up 200 bn when we include its principal creditors, the Gulf States, plus reparations owed for Gulf War I (Kuwait predominantly). So if France, Germany and Russia write off the debts (20bn or so), and the U.S. (4 bn) does, too, this makes up for about 12 percent of the total owed (nobody seems to come forward with hard figures). So it rather sounds like a symbolical act to me. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-04-29 14:13:33 |
| #2 They all agreed that : 1.The United Nations should lift sanctions. 2.The International Community should forgive Iraq's debts. Are you listening Vlad, Gerhard, and Jacques? |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-04-29 12:43:24 |
| #1 Interesting that it is the exiles who wish the foreigners to leave, and the locals who wish them to remain. |
| Posted by: A 2003-04-29 12:24:27 |