Bremer and Iraqi Governing Council sniping at each other....

[kentuck]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/21/international/worldspecial/21IRAQ.html?ei=5062&en=1d458b4ee5c0662c&ex=1062043200&partner=GOOGLE&pagewanted=print&position=

<snip>
Sharp differences emerged today between the top American administrator in Iraq and the country's interim government as the United States sought to calm a city unnerved by the truck bomb that killed 20 people in the United Nations headquarters.

Iraqi officials described a tense meeting between L. Paul Bremer III and the Iraqi Governing Council. Mr. Bremer, they said, demanded that the 25-member Council exert more authority, condemn the bombing strongly and communicate better with the Iraqi people.

Mr. Bremer's office did not respond to a request for comment. But a memo prepared by two of his staff and dated today listed measures that the Iraqi Council should be encouraged to take, including calling on Iraqis to "take responsibility for their own security" by joining a newly created Iraqi civil defense force and holding "town hall meetings" in their local districts.

The confrontation clearly reflected a growing American conviction that a greater and more visible Iraqi involvement in government might allay some hostility to the American-led occupation. Iraqi officials said the Council had responded by saying it lacked authority to convince Iraqis it was effective or relevant.

Iraqi Council members have repeatedly said they should be granted more authority over the police force."You can't blame for us anything," said Adnan Pachachi, a council member, in a recent interview. "We don't have any responsibility."

...more

[w13rd0]

1. The "interim government" knows full well...

...that they will be seen as a puppet organization with no real authority or responsibility. They might as well paint big neon targets on their backs.

[UTUSN]

2. "no responsibility" - Hahaha

Ain't that the truth.

[Jacobin]

3. Bremer to council:

"I'm ordering you to pretend that you have more authority over the occupation than the U.S. Military and convince your countrymen of that fact. And if you don't you're fired."

All this could only happen in the Bush* regime. :shrug:

[markses]

4. I was about to post the same thing

The Times is making fun of them. Nobody could miss the paradox of ordering somebody to be more independent. It's like Sartre's "possessing the other's freedom as a freedom." Unfortunately, the whole Iraq thing brings up another Sartrean theme: No Exit....

[Cocoa]

5. time for a coup?

[markses]

7. Ask Ngo Dinh Diem what happens when US puppets become untenable

Oh, that's right. You can't....

[gratuitous]

6. Not surprising at all

Too many vultures on the same carcass, there's bound to be some animosity.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Puppets talking back to the master?

How droll. Time to replace them with folks who believe more strongly in democracy as dictated. Anybody seen Vidkun Quisling lately? Pierre Laval? Colin Powell..whoops, already on the team.