U.S. rethinking timetable for Iraq sovereignty

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/992125.asp?0cv=CA01

The U.S. administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, was recalled to Washington for talks Tuesday with Bush administration officials that could shorten the timetable for transferring power to an Iraqi government, according to media reports and sources familiar with the talks.

ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, who spoke with NBC News on condition of anonymity, said one issue under discussion was whether Iraq’s 25-member Governing Council should be disbanded and replaced with a real provisional government with more sovereign powers.

Officials said the administration was particularly concerned that the Governing Council would not meet a Dec. 15 deadline to set a timetable to draft a constitution and hold elections. Bremer has said he wants elections to be held by the end of 2004.

A U.S. official told Reuters after the meeting that “abandoning the Iraqi Governing Council is unlikely,” but he acknowledged problems with the council and said Washington could modify the political structure to accelerate the transition to democracy, something long urged by European and U.N. officials and resisted by the Bush administration.

[gratuitous]

1. Cuttin' and runnin'

Turns out this nation building stuff was a little tougher than Bill Clinton made it look! Time to walk away from yet another mess, right Georgie?

[Barrett808]

7. This Iraq mess is a political albatross around *'s neck

They had hoped to ride the Operation Iraqi Freedom wave to victory in 2004, now they're just trying not to to get drowned by it.

[Beetwasher]

8. Yup, Declare Victory and Get Out

That's what they're gonna do...Total fucking scum of the earth. Smash and grab and let someone else clean up the mess...

[dusty64]

12. Yup, and he only

gives a shit cause its starting to tank his poll numbers and making his "election" look very shaky. Can't wait to see how they spin this one.

[qanda]

2. Get out while the gettin' is good!

It's hard to put a happy face on this mess when soldiers keep dying every single day. Although I doubt that anything they do at this point will be successful. Much of the damage has already been done and it's like now they're throwing every idea they have at Iraq hoping something will stick.

[arcane1]

3. Bremer wants elections in late 2004

gee, I wonder why? :shrug:

[peterh]

4. Dow Jones is being a tad more blunt about this…

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Top U.S. officials had a "serious discussion" Tuesday
about speeding up the transfer of power to Iraqis, including appointing an
interim leader who would serve under an interim constitution, ABC News reported.
According to the network, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, rushed
back to Washington for talks after being told his seven-step plan for Iraq was
untenable.

The program outlined by Bremer would have turned power over to the Iraqis only
after a constitution was in place.
ABC News reported the administration hopes that by speeding up the political
process and giving Iraqis more power the attacks on U.S. forces will decrease.




The “exit” plan is getting condensed….elections to worry about..

[Djinn]

5. Meanwhile in Afghanistan

after being bombed two years ago they're still patiently waiting for the "interim government" to make way for something representative...stay tuned

[snippy]

6. This reminds me of Bush telling the palestinian prime minister

that Bush's God told Bush to work on peace in the Middle East, but only until it was time to work on the election. Bush's God has some fucked up priorities.

[Cooley Hurd]

9. They'll try to claim victory as they leave Baghdad via helicopter...

...from the roof of Coalition HQ.

[Robb]

11. Bingo

...Just in time to say "Look we won, and I brought (most of) the troops home... vote for me!" :eyes:

[David Zephyr]

10. Ahem! So Once Again, Bush Belately Comes Around to French Position.

n/t