Why did we turn over the keys to Iraq early?

[Maeve]

Just curious about DUers' opinions on this stealth move...Why do you think we turned over official sovreignty two days early?

edited to add "distract from F 9-11"

[cthrumatrix]

1. Monday - primetime media cover, embarrassment if something would have

happened during a piblic ceremony, less transparency , a "chip" for Bush to play....

[porphyrian]

2. To Distract From The Success Of Fahrenheit 9/11

They can't stand it when they aren't controlling the information we are fed.

[goddess40]

3. BINGO

They seem to like games, when they get to write the rules. Remember a game called Hot Potato, (should there be an e in there somewhere?)

[Maeve]

6. Sorry I left that out! I've added it

My fault; it should have been a choice, you're right.

[October]

4. Other

I said "other" because I think today's big news was going to be Michael Moore and Fahrenheit 9/11 -- now it will be the surprise early Iraqi handover.

They also captured Zarqawi -- they'll do anything it takes to control the press's headlines.








on edit: Spelling of Zarqawi (Still may be incorrect.)

[noonwitch]

5. They thought an attack was planned-the resistance groups said there would

It was probably one of the smarter moves Bush and company have made since making the really stupid one of going there to begin with.

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Other!

The Iraqis ran out of roses to throw at the troops!

[H2O Man]

8. It's a combination of reasons.....

all of which play a role in the administration's trying to control the media with a major "good news" story on Mondays. It has a lot to do with MM's movie F9-11, and the attention that has gotten.

In a way, though, it is proof that the administration and the puppet government in Iraq lack the confidence to go by the script. They must have been aware that the opposition had plans for the next 48 hours. I'm afraid that on Monday, November 1st, the bush administration will announce they already held the presidential election, and bush won.

[doni_georgia]

9. Maybe that news story we have been told about is going to break today

That was my first thought. Something most likely is going to hit this week at least, and they wanted to get a jump on the press coverage. Also, think F911 being #1 at box office had something to do with it, but still, think there is a bigger story going to break any time now.

[htuttle]

10. They were worried about running out of IGC guys

They wanted to hand over the Big Key while there was still someone to hand it to.

[BlueEyedSon]

11. Media Spam to interfere with F911, Kidnapped Marine coverage

playing the media is their only expertise.

[Mel]

12. combo

it's a matter of control over the situation 'news' also they don't want to get blown up.
I try to imagine myself in the Iraqi person shoes and think I would be pissed it's sneaky and goes against the grain of the so called 'democracy' they are trying to convince me is good for the country.

As an American I know it's not what democracy looks like! Looks like a bunch of Men in control of Iraq resources that are the peoples and they have guns. What's that? I call BS on them and they are cowards doing it in the twilight hours undercover. Puppet government that's what I see and I think the Iraqi people will see it that way too.

[radwriter0555]

13. The missing money..... now they will claim no power to investigate it.

Get it?

[Junkdrawer]

14. In an hour or two we'll see what the Supremes say about torture...

I've got a bad feeling about that...

[kcwayne]

15. An Iraqi minister on CNN stated that they had intelligence

about planned attacks on the 30th, and this move was made to disrupt the planning.

I don't have a link, and I don't remember the minister's name, sorry.

[debinengland]

16. Two reasons

Bush wanted the handover to take place while he was still actively working to recruit NATO nation help and saw an early handover to be a chance to impress his "marks".

More importantly, he didn't want the American military to be "in the driving seat" when the latest two Americans are beheaded (I'm sorry, but it's inevitable). When these terror attacks and kidnappings/beheadings continue, he has more leverage. He can say, "we must remain in Iraq (milking it for more oil and other corporate profits), because the Iraqi security forces obviously can't handle it".

-or-

He can use it as an excuse that our troops can't function in the chaos the Iraqi interim government has allowed to take over and begin to withdraw US troops in time for the election.

He sure doesn't give a fig what condition he leaves that country in!

[newyawker99]

17. Hi debinengland!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[democratreformed]

18. Propoganda - trying to make things seem like they are better

than they really are. Trying to pretend that we really ARE making a democratic Iraq (with the government we control, of course).

Pure hype. That's what it is. BULLSHIT - the usual from this administration.

[KittyWampus]

19. Do You REALLY Believe They Handed Over The Keys?

[Maeve]

24. Let's just say we handed over SOME keys

Not that they actually START or OPEN anything....(got a few of those in the kitchen everything drawer!)

Agree that it was mostly symbolic.

[KittyWampus]

25. Funny Analogy!

:)

[bushneedstogo2]

20. They wanted the media to stop talking about F 9/11

It worked didn't it.

But it's not going to work in November 2004 is it?

They wanted to get the movie out of the headlines and it worked but the DVD comes out in September which will be in perfect time for the election.

[MontecitoDem]

21. Since we haven't turned over much power

seems to me we could have done this months and months ago.

Am I wrong? What have we turned over except the perception that now someone else is responsible when our soldiers or Iraqi's die? Guess I'm a cynic.

[smirkymonkey]

22. Every single move they make is a

distraction from the truth. :nuke:

[molly]

23. Because there will 4th of July attacks

everywhere.