Reply #1: I got to the end of the first paragraph and had to start laughting.

[acmavm]

<snip>
something that he said would make the fledgling Iraqi government even more dependent on US forces and hinder its independence.”
<snip>

There are so many things wrong with this statement I don't know where to start. But shall I start with 'what frigging independence'?

And then I'll move on to 'do you really think that this bunch of thugs will ever allow independence'.

You folks can take it from there.