Doubts mount over US plans to transfer sovereignty to Iraqis on June

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Doubts over US plans to transfer sovereignty to an interim government in Iraq on June 30 mounted after the chief US administrator, Paul Bremer, warned that US-trained Iraqi forces were not on target to ensure the country's security.

"If former members of the Republican Guards, the mukharabbat, the Fedayeen Saddam and the Moqtadas militia are to be prevented from shooting their way into power, Iraqs security forces must have help until they are fully equipped and trained," Bremer said in a statement.

He was referring, in that order, to the crack army forces, military intelligence and militia which protected former dictator Saddam Hussein, as well as to forces loyal to Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr leading the current uprising against the year-old US-led occupation of Iraq.

"It is clear that Iraqi forces will not be able, on their own, to deal with these threats by June 30 when an Iraqi government assumes sovereignty," Bremer said.

"Instead, Iraq and troops from many countries, including the United States will be partners in providing the security Iraqis need."

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040419/ts_afp/iraq_worldwrap&cid=1503&ncid=1480

[Gothmog]

1. To Whom will we transfer control to?

It is pretty obvious that there is no one to transfer control to. The insistence of the Bushies that control be transferred on June 30 does not make any sense.

[Malva Zebrina]

2. It is about the election--and the fact that we failed in Iraq,

but wanting to cover it up