Iraqis Chafe at U.S. Block on Choice of President

[Barrett808]

Iraqis Chafe at U.S. Block on Choice of President
By Tom Perry

BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi leaders were dismayed by the United States and United Nations Monday blocking their choice of a president to replace Saddam Hussein when the U.S. occupation authority is wound up in a month's time.

Deadlock set in Sunday after a prime minister and key cabinet posts were broadly agreed. Iraqi politicians said U.S. officials asked the Iraqi Governing Council to put off further talks on filling the largely ceremonial post of head of state.

The Council was next due to meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

The U.S.-appointed Council favors its present leader, Ghazi Yawar, a prominent tribal leader with support from various ethnic and religious groups. Council members said U.S. governor Paul Bremer and U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi were pressuring them to back Adnan Pachachi, an 81-year-old former foreign minister.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040531/wl_nm/iraq_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480

[kentuck]

1. The propaganda machine is in high gear with this issue...

We want a certain person to be PM of Iraq but we don't want the Iraqis to know we want a certain person so we say we are for someone else so they will think the other person must be the one we don't want...blah...blah...

[sendero]

2. Sometimes...

... I think the misadministration thinks that the Iraqis are as easy to fool as Americans apparently are. They are in for a big surprise.

[cal04]

5. They are smarter, but will unfortunately be railroaded too

Pachachi, who fled to the United Arab Emirates after Saddam Hussein's Baath party seized power in 1968, is well-connected within the United States, United Nations and pro-U.S. countries of the Persian Gulf.

The 81-year-old was instrumental in overseeing the drafting of an interim constitution that U.S. officials have hailed as among the most progressive and democratic in the Arab world. He's also one of the strongest pro-U.S. voices on the council

We also are Iraqis and should take part in making decisions that are important to our nation.''


"We blame the United States 100 per cent for the security in Iraq," al-Yawer said. "They occupied the country, disbanded the security agencies and for 10 months left Iraq's borders open for anyone to come in without a visa or even a passport."

[NNN0LHI]

3. What is this "Iraqi leaders" shit? Bush has appointed these assholes

They are nothing more than well paid thugs in nice suits. Who is kidding who here? Anyone who believes a word of this crap is a bigger idiot than Bush is.

Don

[Barrett808]

4. The Guardian has a good take on this

Only yesterday the Iraqi governing council members complained of "massive pressure" to endorse Adnan Pachachi, America's choice for president of the interim government, even though most of them favoured another candidate, more critical of the US. The US, which has the final say in the matter, threatened not to recognise the council's choice. Given that the US chose the members of the council, one can only imagine how they will get on with a truly independent, democratically accountable group of representatives.

[Malva Zebrina]

6. Does anyone really believe that Bush is going to let the Iraqi people

have their own government?

I find that simply hilarious.

Anybody? Most people I know, are laughing over this.

Most people I don't know, actually believe that Bush is going to hand over to the Iraqi people, control over their government and their country and it's resources-ie oil fields and then of course it would have been absolutely right that Bush lied to invade another country on lies, and those lies do not matter-it is OK to lie if in the end, no matter how mamy thousands are murdered, as long as the end is accomplished and in this case, the end is the seizing of the spoils- (ahem) We have given the Iraqi people back their country and then they all can teach their children that pre emptive attack and murder is perfectly fine as long as one gets the oil, or what they coveted.

[gratuitous]

7. Yup, "full sovreignty"

Except Iraqis can't choose their leaders, which will be imposed by the U.S.; they can't vote in free and open elections; they won't benefit from their own natural resources, which have been contracted out to foreign corporations; and they won't be allowed to provide for their own national defense or sign treaties.

The Iraqis WILL have a choice between Coke and Pepsi. THAT's full sovreignty!

[gulliver]

8. We have to object to whoever they choose.

Otherwise, that person will have no legitimacy. Now would the Bushies try something that transparently manipulative? (I think they would. They are idiots who think of themselves as misunderstood geniuses and men of consequence.)