Allawi shapes up as Iraq's iron man

[cal04]

A FORMER Iraqi prime minister who is tipped to return as a “strongman” leader if Baghdad’s faltering government falls has challenged the American-led coalition’s objective of creating a western-style democracy even though the country is in turmoil.

Iyad Allawi, an ally of the United States and Britain who ran the first Iraqi government after the fall of Saddam Hussein, said that elections were no solution when the overriding problem was a security crisis caused by militias who had infiltrated the police and were killing with impunity. The slaughter has triggered an exodus of middle-class professionals.

“Iraq was not and is not ready for elections,” Allawi said in an interview last week.

With sectarian violence spiralling out of control and the government of Nouri al-Maliki unable to stop it, Allawi said that various political groupings were discussing alternatives.



http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2460035,00.html

[bemildred]

1. No he doesn't. It's too late for a stooge dictator. nt

[teryang]

2. Allawi will defeat the militias with what?

There is no central government or police force or Iraqi army. Every official organization is little more than an empty shell or front for primarily Shia militias.

Replacing Allawi with Maliki was window dressing. Replacing Maliki with "strongman" Allawi could only be supported by US Forces and is totally the wrong way to go.

We should withdraw and covertly support the Sunni militias until the Shia are forced to come to terms with them. They must negotiate directly with each other without the US written constitution, bremer edicts, and multinational corporations. We must get the f..k out now.

Concern about a bloodbath after killing hundreds of thousands is ridiculous at this point. Utlimately less lives will be lost if we leave now.

The real American concern is the suspension of the looting going on now by anglo-american multinational corporations.