Article

2003-06-08 Iraq

U.S. reportedly rejects former Iraqi exiles as future leaders

Exiled Iraqi opposition leaders who returned to Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein have been told by the U.S. administration they will not participate in forming a new government. Leaders of seven political parties, including the Pentagon-backed Iraqi National Congress, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraqi (SCIRI) and two Kurdish parties, returned to Baghdad expecting to head a new political regime. Instead of establishing a full interim government, Paul Bremer, the top U.S. civil administrator in Iraq, wants to appoint Iraqis to a council, which will advise the U.S. administration on policy decisions. The decision not to hand over power to the former opposition leaders, means the U.S. will maintain authority in Iraq longer than originally planned. The Washington Post reported one senior U.S. official as saying that tenure could last as long as two years.

Thereby avoiding the mistakes we made in Afghanistan...

Posted by Fred Pruitt 2003-06-08 03:21 pm|| || Front Page|| [27 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 This is something that actually make sense. We must have fired the state department pukes and hired DoD types to run the country.

Posted by Douglas De Bono 2003-06-08 18:39:27|| [www.douglasdebono.com] 2003-06-08 18:39:27|| Front Page Top

#2 Sounds like we're learning. Or maybe listening to Salam Pax!

Seriously, the boy did make sense when he said:

"funfact of the day: when was the last time the iraqi "man-in-the-street" had the right to express an honest and free opinion about the government's policies?

Answer: 1962 - that is forty years ago. I can only hope that our american friends don't forget to bring extra copies of "Democracy for Dummies" and "Make a Decision: it's not as hard as it sounds" books with them."

We need to start slow there, as we also should have in Afghanistan.

Posted by Kathy K 2003-06-08 19:52:19|| [site-essential.com/] 2003-06-08 19:52:19|| Front Page Top

#3 i wouldnt believe dawn on this - it makes no sense
2 of the 7 "exile" groups arent exile groups at all - the 2 big Kurdish parties. Its not concievable that any representative Iraqi council would leave them out. Which to me makes the rest of the assertion unreliable as well.

Clearly Bremer wants to dilute the power of the 7, and bring more non-Kurdish non-exile individuals and groups in - which is why the delay - its slow developing those groups.

actually whats happening is that NO ONE is forming a new govt - they are forming a council to advise the US instead - theres haggling now about the role and makeup ofthe council.

Sorry, but i dont agree with those who are thrilled with no locally chosen Iraqi govt for as long as possible, and who call for wiping out towns like Fallujah and laying salt. Maybe when you have by the balls their hearts and minds will follow - but not for long, if the experience of the russians in various places, the Israelis, and lots of other situations is applicable (not saying their was choice in each of those situations) To the extent we CAN do real hearts and minds, we'll be much better off. I think Wolfowitz realizes that.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2003-06-09 00:31:22|| 2003-06-09 00:31:22|| Front Page Top

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