| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraqis Have Doubts Over Choice of Interim Premier |
| 2004-05-28 |
Fri May 28, 2004 01:13 PM ET By Michael Georgy BAGHDAD (Reuters) - News that Iyad Allawi had been chosen as interim prime minister on Friday did little to cheer many Iraqis who dismissed him as an outsider lacking the political experience to lead the country out of post-war chaos. "What is his political experience? I know nothing about him. He lived abroad as an exile. We need someone who lived here who can pull Iraq out of a crisis," said a hotel manager who declined to give his name. "Iraq is the same as it was in the time of Saddam Hussein except now I am afraid of militiamen so I can’t say my name." Iraq’s U.S.-appointed Governing Council on Friday recommended Allawi, one of its members, as prime minister. But Iraqis in central Baghdad said they knew little about the man with long-time links to the CIA. Most members of the Governing Council live in an isolated compound for ministers and politicians or in an upscale area of the capital with manicured lawns, a far cry from the living standards of most Iraqis. Many Iraqis often complain they have never seen a member of the Governing Council walking the streets or shaking people’s hands. Security concerns mean there is little opportunity for such contact with ordinary Iraqis. Allawi, a wealthy secular Shi’ite Muslim and former member of Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party, is a relative of Ahmad Chalabi, a former Pentagon favorite who has fallen out with Washington, but the two are not regarded as particularly close. Chalabi was himself long seen as Washington’s likely choice to lead post-Saddam Iraq. Allawi, a British-educated neurologist, went into exile after turning against Saddam and in 1990 formed the Iraqi National Accord, a party backed by the CIA and British intelligence and including many former Baathists who opposed the Baghdad government. But his years abroad defying Saddam do not seem to have won him many followers in U.S.-occupied Iraq. "I heard he used to play sports. I think he should really go back to playing sports," said Seif Gharib, a 20-year-old security guard at Iraq’s Ministry of Defense. "Who is Iyad Allawi? Hassan Ali, a policeman, was also dismissive. "I reject him," he said. "Where was he when we suffered under Saddam? Besides I do not recognize the Governing Council." Does anyone else get an image of Iraq’s interim government squabbling whilst Baghdad burns? |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #10 I have no problem with working with the UN as long as any action resulting from debate is limited to debate. Have a ball. This first step taken by Iraq is a big one. Especially with the jihadis trying to derail it at every turn. If the Iraqis can make this work at all, it will be a tremendous step toward transforming the ME. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-05-28 7:58:20 PM |
| #9 Al BEEB describes the UN reaction as "lukewarm". (My scarequotes, not theirs.) That right there sounds very encouraging. However, UN Envoy Brahimi "respects" (their scarequotes) the decision. Works for me. I was afraid the fix would be in with the UN involved. So what if the current Governing Council wants to hang on to some power. If they didn't have ambition, they wouldn't be politicians. The voters will get to sort it out soon enough. |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2004-05-28 7:51:51 PM |
| #8 I wonder if they noticed the hotel manager was Australian before interviewing him. (Or worse... I'm imagining the protagonist from the song "Mr. Bad Example.") |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2004-05-28 5:25:37 PM |
| #7 Mr. Ambassador would you like a cigar? They are excellent. They come from the Dominican Republic. I do not take the product of imperialist stooges. Only commie stooges, huh? (Sorry, can't help myself. Whenever I hear the term American Stooges I think of Dr. Stragelove.) |
| Posted by: remote man 2004-05-28 4:31:23 PM |
| #6 And Fred plunges the stilleto between the ribs and pierces the heart. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-05-28 3:42:23 PM |
| #5 So how many people do you think they spoke to in Baghdad before they found 2 that would meet the needs of the story they wanted to right? 20? 30? Or do you think they spoke to 0 and made the interviews up? It's a tough call... but I think I'm gonna go with 0. |
| Posted by: Damn_Proud_American 2004-05-28 3:40:44 PM |
| #4 If they talked to the hotel manager they probably didn't have to leave the bar... |
| Posted by: Fred 2004-05-28 3:39:14 PM |
| #3 ah, this is just Reuters doing its usual. Notice how they only spoke to people in central Baghdad. That way they could get back to the hotel bar quickly. Anyone who was picked by the "american stooges" on the IGC would get this treatment. Hey, Im starting to sound like a regular Rantburger! Im going native!! Yarghhhh!! |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-05-28 3:31:27 PM |
| #2 That's why they're going to have a real election in a few months. Politics is not a bad thing. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2004-05-28 2:56:13 PM |
| #1 News that Iyad Allawi had been chosen as interim prime minister on Friday did little to cheer many Iraqis who dismissed him as an outsider lacking the political experience to lead the country out of post-war chaos. "What is his political experience? I know nothing about him. He lived abroad as an exile. We need someone who lived here who can pull Iraq out of a crisis," said a hotel manager who declined to give his name. Does this "hotel manager" really believe that after thirty years of Saddam Hussein's rule, there's going to be an ample supply of home-grown Iraqis with the proper amount of "political experience"?? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-05-28 2:38:10 PM |