http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040526/ap_on_re_us/iraq_garner&cid=519&ncid=1480ORLANDO, Fla. - Retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, who headed the first occupation government in Iraq (news - web sites), said Wednesday the U.S transfer of authority to Iraqis next month may be happening too soon.
"I think one of the worst things we've done is set 30 June as a line in the sand," Garner said during a speech at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. "This isn't something we just do overnight."
It would be better if the multiethnic Iraqis progressed at their own pace toward establishing a democracy, perhaps even failing once or twice, Garner said.
"It's our tendency as Americans, because we're so proactive, to take our template and then place that on another country," said Garner, who was replaced by Paul Bremer in May 2003.
"We just have to have enough forces, either us or the United Nations (news - web sites), to keep them from collapsing. It's OK if they don't do it right the first time or second time. That's part of the process," he said.
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