Now for the wrath of the oppressed

[CShine]

Its legitimacy is in doubt, its sovereignty is qualified and security is the most daunting issue it faces. The Iraqi Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, was expected yesterday to outline his government's plans for security in the coming days - these are expected to include the invocation of curfews and massive security clamp-downs on a city-by-city basis.

Several of his ministers have warned they will not be constrained by the niceties that might have constrained American efforts to wipe out the insurgency. The Defence Minister, Hazima al-Shalan, warned earlier this week of "a showdown" and of his preparedness to chop off the hands and the heads of insurgents. But all sides have acknowledged that the new Iraqi security forces are hopelessly unprepared for the challenge and that it will be up to the 138,000 US troops staying in Iraq to provide the necessary muscle and firepower.

Reminded that the most powerful military in the world has so far failed to suppress the insurgency, Iraqi officials say they have a better understanding of their own culture and geography and that a post-handover, Iraqi-on-Iraqi scenario will add to their power and incentive. In Istanbul, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zabari, insisted: "I believe today we will challenge those elements in Iraq - the terrorists, the criminals, the Saddamists, the anti-democratic forces - by bringing the date of the handover of sovereignty even before June 30, as a sign that we are ready for the job."

But as it fights for authority and legitimacy, the new government will have to create its own symbols of power. Much of the Green Zone complex of buildings that were the seat of power of the former dictator Saddam Hussein is to be transferred to the US for inclusion in its new embassy, Washington's biggest in the world. Oddly enough, the most potent symbol of the authority of the new government is its newly acquired legal control of Saddam, but even that is qualified, because the Americans are to maintain physical control of the prisoner.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/28/1088392606360.html?oneclick=true

[ewagner]

1. So this is why Bremer "got out of Dodge"

(paraphrasing Tom Browkaw's words this AM)

The new government is going to crack down in some rather oppressive ways and Bremer wanted to be loooooonnngggg gone before it happened.

[hang a left]

2. Yep.

Now they can torture and bomb the crap out of the poor Iraqis and answer to who?

[David__77]

3. The problem for the quislings:

Most Iraqi men do not want to risk their lives fighting for them and for the US. Gunshots and bombs will send them scurrying home. It's a pattern that's been repeated over and over and won't stop now. Allawi is simply window dressing. He rancid stink will sicken ordinary Iraqis.