White House Says Iraq Sovereignty Could Be Limited (limits UN plan)

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/23/politics/23DIPL.html

White House Says Iraq Sovereignty Could Be Limited
By STEVEN R. WEISMAN

Published: April 23, 2004


ASHINGTON, April 22 — The Bush administration's plans for a new caretaker government in Iraq would place severe limits on its sovereignty, including only partial command over its armed forces and no authority to enact new laws, administration officials said Thursday.<snip>

Only 10 weeks from the scheduled transfer of sovereignty, the administration is still not sure exactly who will govern in Baghdad, or precisely how they will be selected. A week ago, President Bush agreed to a recommendation by Mr. Brahimi to dismantle the existing Iraqi Governing Council, which was handpicked by the United States, and to replace it with a caretaker government whose makeup is to be decided next month.<snip>

The administration's plans seem likely to face objections on several fronts. Several European and United Nations diplomats have said in interviews that they do not think the United Nations will approve a Security Council resolution sought by Washington that handcuffs the new Iraq government in its authority over its own armed forces, let alone foreign forces on its soil.<snip>

The diplomats added that it might be unrealistic to expect the new Iraqi government not to demand the right to change Iraqi laws put in place by the American occupation under L. Paul Bremer III, including provisions limiting the influence of Islamic religious law.<snip>

As envisioned by Mr. Brahimi, the caretaker government would consist of a president, a prime minister, two vice presidents or deputy prime ministers and a cabinet of ministers in each agency. A national conference of perhaps 1,000 Iraqis would advise it, possibly by establishing a smaller body of about 100 Iraqis.<snip>

[arcane1]

1. but, but, but, I thought it was all about FREEDOM

starting to look like the colonial ambition that Bush just denied last week

no surprise there


time for the freeps to adjust, again. Now they have to argue why the Iraqis shouldn't get freedom, after arguing for so long that they should


fuck you George W Bush.

[Old and In the Way]

2. It's all about the contracts.

Did we really think a $200BB investment would be gratias? The Republican Corporate Party wants their ROI. Sad to say, they'll never get it.