U.S. Open to a Proposal That Supplants Council in Iraq

[Eye and Monkey]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/16/politics/16DIPL.html?hp

Published: April 16, 2004


WASHINGTON, April 15 — The Bush administration accepted on Thursday the outlines of a United Nations proposal to dissolve the Iraqi Governing Council installed last year by the United States and replace it with a caretaker government when Iraqi sovereignty is restored on July 1.

Administration officials said that the proposal by Lakhdar Brahimi, the special United Nations envoy in Iraq, to create a new government of prominent Iraqis had many details to be worked out, but that for now it was acceptable to President Bush.

"I don't see anything at this point in what he's proposing that would be of concern to us," said Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, in an interview, adding that Mr. Brahimi's mission "thus far has been very successful."

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell also supported the plan, while Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, without explicitly approving it said it was likely to become a reality.

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[priller]

1. Where does that leave Chalabi?

Some American officials say that they expect Ahmad Chalabi, an exile favored by the Pentagon, could be marginalized as a result of the new plan. Aides to Mr. Brahimi make no secret of the envoy's disdain for Mr. Chalabi.

Ha ha, hee hee, ho ho, see you at the "margins", Ahmed!

[Eye and Monkey]

2. Before long, if not already, passport in hand, he's headed to the margin.

Expect him to show up on the payroll of the American Enterprise Institute.

[NMDemDist2]

3. any chance Syria can extradite him?? hehehe eom

[daleo]

4. Life will be safer for Chalabi in London or Washington

This way if there is peace in Iraq in the next few years, the neo-cons can pull out Chalabi and do the whole thing over again.