Article

2003-04-25 Iraq

Baghdad ’Governor’ Says Wants to Work with Garner

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Posted by Steve 2003-04-25 12:35 pm|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 avid practitioner of the big lie. He's a combination of Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, self-annointed "leaders". They were appointed in the same manner this fool was.

Posted by Frank G 2003-04-25 13:13:05|| 2003-04-25 13:13:05|| Front Page Top

#2 "Besides that we were able to save stolen money." Assadi, once a Finance Ministry director general, said his council had helped to save $260 million from looters, which had been transferred to the central bank along with cash from other Iraqi banks in the capital.

That is rich! Pardon the pun. Go get a bunch of cash lying around after the war to finance your own political machine. Whatever Mr. Zubaidi is, he can smell an opportunity and knows how to play to the press and the people when there is a political vacuum. It will be interesting how this plays out.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2003-04-25 13:18:26|| 2003-04-25 13:18:26|| Front Page Top

#3 one note - we dont want elections before there'sa functioning press, political parties, independent judiciary, etc. Holding elections earlier is a recipe for electing a new dictator (think Bob Mugabe, Cambodia, much of Central Asia for example) so what we are looking for at this stage is "consensus" among local notables - but who's a notable? and consensus can be manufactured by the guy who delivers the services. I suspect Baghdad will be much harder in this regard than the smaller, more homogeneuous southern cities.

as for A, B, C?

Definitely C, IMO. And I think C is what Iraq principally needs - most 3rd world countries could a use a few more Mayor Dailey's prepared to exchange real service delivery for votes, rather than a lot of nationalist ideologues (Dailey of course had the good sense to limit patronage to the public sector, and to make sure political appointees still DID deliver services, unlike some 3rd world kleptocrats)

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-25 13:24:20|| 2003-04-25 13:24:20|| Front Page Top

#4 We're going to have to recruit Iraqi policians from somewhere and politicians are nothing if not "self-starting." Read'em the riot act and see if he's willing to play ball.

Posted by Hiryu 2003-04-25 13:28:23|| 2003-04-25 13:28:23|| Front Page Top

#5 from reuters:

"The influential Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) boycotted Garner's first meeting and will do so again when he brings Iraqi politicians together in Baghdad next Monday, SCIRI representative Hamid al-Bayati said on Friday.

Bayati, head of the SCIRI office in London, told Reuters that the State Department had more experience of the Iraqi opposition than the Pentagon and had a better understanding of the political landscape of Iraq."

So it seems SCIRI is not boycotting Garner cause hes an American infidel but because of his affiliations on the Potomac IE "for Iraq to be ruled by neo con defense intellectuals is an offense to the honor of Islam - on the other hand to be ruled by the striped pants boys from Foggy Bottom is a blessing, truly the will of Allah as expressed in the Koran and Hadiths, in the Shura on interdepartmental in-fighting."

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-25 15:05:51|| 2003-04-25 15:05:51|| Front Page Top

#6 so - to sum up

who is for UN running Iraq raise your hands
Outside - Weasels, Iran, Arab states, US Department of State, liberal commentators (even some hawks)
Inside - SCIRI, Pachachi, Etc?
Who wants the US to run Iraq till a new admin, rather than the UN?
Outside - Dept of Defense, most hawkish commentators
Inside - Chalabi and INC, Kurds
Who is not sure?
Outside - UK,
Inside - Ayatollah Sistani, Sadr, "governor" zubaidi, etc

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-25 15:15:20|| 2003-04-25 15:15:20|| Front Page Top

#7 From Reuters : "More than 100 Iraqis in exile from across the opposition political spectrum gathered in Madrid on Friday for a weekend of talks on future democracy in Iraq

Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and Foreign Minister Ana Palacio, firm supporters of the U.S. war to topple President Saddam Hussein , inaugurated the conference and offered support in the rebuilding of Iraq.

Members of the long-exiled, pro-U.S. Iraqi National Congress, the Shi'ite Muslim party Al Dawa, the Iraqi Communist Party, Kurdish parties and other groups will meet this weekend. "

Interesting that while SCIRI again boycotted, Al Dawa participated.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-25 15:54:30|| 2003-04-25 15:54:30|| Front Page Top

#8 Said Abbas has left the building! (but where is elvis?)

AP "The Shiite cleric who took over Kut's city hall and claimed control of this southeastern Iraqi city has left the building peacefully, U.S. military officials said Friday.

The reasons for Said Abbas' retreat were unclear. The cleric's followers had been protesting the presence of U.S. troops. "

Looks like a defeat for SCIRI and the Iranians.

Posted by liberalhawk 2003-04-25 16:11:18|| 2003-04-25 16:11:18|| Front Page Top

09:25 Anonymous
07:51 Bulldog
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01:47 Bomb-a-rama
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23:57 PD
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22:00 Alaska Paul
21:40 Ned
21:26 mojo
21:21 tu3031
21:21 mojo
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20:38 Alaska Paul
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20:35 Ptah
20:14 Frank G
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