U.S. Officials Fashion Legal Basis to Keep Force in Iraq

[hedgetrimmer]

~SNIP~
By JOHN F. BURNS and THOM SHANKER

Published: March 26, 2004


BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 25 — With fewer than 100 days to go before Iraq resumes its sovereignty, American officials say they believe they have found a legal basis for American troops to continue their military control over the security situation in Iraq.

After months of concern about the legal status of the 110,000 American troops who are expected to remain here after the occupation formally ends on June 30, the officials say they believe an existing United Nations resolution approving the presence of a multinational force in Iraq, approved by the Security Council in October, gives American commanders the authority needed to maintain control after sovereignty is handed back.

Showing his confidence that the approach was grounded in international law, L. Paul Bremer III, the chief of the occupation authority, issued an executive order this week specifying that the newly formed Iraqi armed forces be placed under the operational control of the American commander, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, who has been named to lead American and allied forces after the transfer of political authority to the Iraqis.

Mr. Bremer and other top American officials say they believe Security Council Resolution 1511, which conferred the mandate for the American-led alliance, can be used to provide legal justification for the American military command to operate until Dec. 31, 2005. That is when a timetable agreed on by Iraqi leaders envisages the final transition to an elected Iraqi government.

... more ...

link: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/26/international/middleeast/26IRAQ.html?ex=1081270688&ei=1&en=e8f14d4c7c9ac352

[xray s]

1. Just what the hell are we turning over to the Iraqis on 6/30/04?

The keys to the bathroom in Bremer's office?

[daleo]

2. More likely the keys to the mop closet

Amazing how they like to give the veneer of legality to all this. I suppose it is for the sake of trying to get more multi-national corporations on side.

[tabasco]

3. Well, let's see . . if it's sovereignty, then if the council votes . .

that the US forces leave Iraq, then we will have to respect that sovereignty, right?

[Mari333]

4. Get ready folks. we are in for the long haul in Iraq.

I have this bad feeling, and the draft will be implemented. The stories Im hearing from military families speak out are resoundingly serious. The military is stretched so thin we wont be out of there for a hell of a long time. Bush has screwed the pooch with this one. we are totally fucked.
My stepson is supposed to come home in November or December..bet you hes sent right back, beacuse thats whats happening right now. Kids are being sent back in the worst shape possible, and the military is losing their medical records very conveniently..happened to my kid, and I heard today its not just my kid thats been sent with a medical problem.
Batten down the hatches, its going to get worse.
You can thank those murderers in the White House for this, by the way.
http://www.bringthemhomenow.com

[Fridays Child]

5. But I thought that b*shistas didn't need no stinking international law.

Oh, wait a second. It serves their agenda, in this instance. Never mind,then.