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Iraq-Jordan
Iraq National Conference to Begin Sat.
2004-07-28
Iraq announced that a national conference for 1,000 delegates to choose an interim assembly would begin Saturday - a vital step toward democracy in a nation struggling to deal with a persistent campaign of kidnappings and other violence. The conference, stipulated under a law enacted by the former U.S. occupation authority, was to have been concluded by the end of July, but it had to be delayed because preparations were behind schedule, conference chair Fuad Masoum said. "There was an idea put forward by the United Nations to delay the conference because of a lack of preparation, from technical and other perspectives," Masoum said. "We don't want to go ahead without the U.N."
'cause the UN is so valuable and all.
However, the United Nations wanted a much longer delay, which organizers vetoed. The conference is beset with difficulties, with some local leaders unable to agree on delegates and some important factions threatening to boycott. The gathering will help create an interim assembly intended to help prepare for elections next year that many hope will bring order to a country wracked by a persistent insurgency.
So wracked by insurgency that the economy is growing like gang-busters, people are out on the streets at night enjoying themselves, the schools and hospitals are open -- Detroit should be so wracked.
Posted by:Steve White

#5  Is either Bill Clinton or Ron Reagan Jr. speaking?
Posted by: Chuck Simmins   2004-07-28 2:19:59 PM  

#4  to quote the obvious the UN has helped in nationbuilding in Timor, Cambodia, and (I think) elsewhere. And they would improve the conferences legitimacy with SOME Iraqis. Which is NOT to say the UN benefit is LARGE, or is worth MAJOR CONCESSIONS, or cant be dispensed with - just to bring this back to reality, a reality Mr. Masoum, the man on the ground, recognizes.

In any case this is another step forward - it may be just as well Sadrs not there - as for the Sunni clerics, it depends on WHO is representing the Sunni areas. If its nobodies, and the Sunnis are out of it, thats bad. If its Sunni professionals, budding local pols, or even tribal sheiks, and theyre MARGINALIZING the CLERICS, that very, very good.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2004-07-28 1:32:12 PM  

#3  Man I'll bet the floor fights will be ummmm violent.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-07-28 11:34:54 AM  

#2  To state the obvious, the UN is a road block rather than an enabler.

When has imposing a superfical bureaucracy ever helped in nation building?
Posted by: Capt America   2004-07-28 10:48:54 AM  

#1  "The conference is beset with difficulties, with some local leaders unable to agree on delegates and some important factions threatening to boycott."

This isn't about the DNC or Scrappleface? They haven't reached the point, yet, where they have designated demonstration areas, etc. Someday, I can picture people applying for car bomb permits and the whole nine yards.
Posted by: .com   2004-07-28 12:55:46 AM  

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