Iraq Set to Enact Law Allowing Martial Rule

[struggle4progress]

Amnesty Offer to Insurgents Is Seen Near
By Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, July 7, 2004; Page A15

BAGHDAD, July 6 -- Iraq's interim government intends to enact a national security law as early as Wednesday that would give Prime Minister Ayad Allawi broad powers of martial rule in troubled areas, including direct command of army, police and intelligence units, a senior Iraqi government official said Tuesday.

Although the law would give Allawi new latitude to combat insurgents, the prime minister had sought even tougher measures, some of which were stripped out of early drafts because of objections from other members of the interim government and from foreign governments, said the senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The law would restrict the prime minister's power by requiring any declaration of emergency rule to have the consent of the country's president and its two vice presidents, as well as a majority of the 32-member cabinet. Iraq's highest court also would be able to overturn Allawi's martial law declarations.

Even so, the new law would allow Allawi to deploy Iraq's army to fight insurgents. When the country's old army was disbanded and a new army created, L. Paul Bremer, then the U.S. administrator of Iraq, issued a decree preventing the army from being used for domestic security. But Bremer lifted that restriction in a final order issued before he departed Iraq on June 28, the day political authority was transferred to the interim government.
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"He's the security prime minister," the retired official said. Fellow Iraqi politicians, who endorsed Allawi's appointment, "turned to him because they are not looking for democracy, they are looking for security, and they think he knows how to deal with it," the official said.

*Pincus reported from Washington*
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32275-2004Jul6.html


Ah! The Iraqis "are not looking for democracy, they are looking for security." How fortunate that the PNAC took an interest in their security needs!