Chalabi and the other exiles are the legitimate govt of Iraq

[lord of the mark]

Well, France and Germany are apparently asking that sovereignty over Iraq be handed to them within a month. Werent these the same guys who were US puppets with no real support on the ground, who France and Germany refused to endorse just a few months ago?

Can someone please explain?

[chequita guevara]

Well, Chalabai should be turned over to the Jordanians, but the rest of the Council seems to be okay as a provisional government.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Well, Chalabai should be turned over to the Jordanians, but the rest of the Council seems to be okay as a provisional government.

then why a few weeks ago did the UNSC insist that they only be welcomed but not endorsed ?

why was it that a few weeks ago they were handpicked, unelected, puppets of Jerry Bremer? Completely lacking in legitimacy?

[chequita guevara]

Because they're compromising or setting up the scene of a compromise?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Because they're compromising or setting up the scene of a compromise?

the french are insisting we turn over control of Iraq to them in a month, when WE say the Governing council isnt ready, and that its important to get a constitution written and have elections first. Which, BTW, is standard UN procedure in Bosnia, Timor, etc.

[chequita guevara]

Yes, but didn't we say that we'd be out of there in three months? Why haven't elections for a Constituant Assembly been organized?

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Yes, but didn't we say that we'd be out of there in three months? Why haven't elections for a Constituant Assembly been organized?

Whoever in their wildest dope induced fantasys thought we would be out of there in 3 months needs to be sent to a treatment hospital for shock therapy..

[GePap]

Did the French specify the Governing council, or just Iraqis in general? Iraq does have a constitution currently: after all, the US did not intervene with any UN sanction and overthrew the recognized government of Iraq, as such is resembes something mroe like vietnam's invasion of Cambodia than Bosnia or East Timor, so using those two as an example is iffy: both of those were new states, not 70 year old states that were members of the UN since day one.

[Japher]

Is the war even "officially" over?

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by GePap
Did the French specify the Governing council, or just Iraqis in general? Iraq does have a constitution currently: after all, the US did not intervene with any UN sanction and overthrew the recognized government of Iraq, as such is resembes something mroe like vietnam's invasion of Cambodia than Bosnia or East Timor, so using those two as an example is iffy: both of those were new states, not 70 year old states that were members of the UN since day one.

withdraw in ONE MONTH in favour of Iraqis generally? Just how do you do that?

The current constitution - are the French really proposing that?

Heres some more to think about


Fareed Zaraia on the rush out of Iraq.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Yes, but didn't we say that we'd be out of there in three months? Why haven't elections for a Constituant Assembly been organized?

Cause it was only a few weeks ago that the IGC even appointed a commitee to determine a method for calling a constitutional convention, determining membership, etc. Theyre supposed to report shortly.

[GePap]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
withdraw in ONE MONTH in favour of Iraqis generally? Just how do you do that?

The current constitution - are the French really proposing that?

did I endorse the plan anywhere? The point is that Kosovo (which is still recognized as part of Serbia), Bosnia (which came into being and recognized only a few years before intervention) and East timor (which was not recognized as a state until after the whole process was over) are not usefull annalogies to Iraq, due to hisotrical and proportional differences, and the method by which intervention was achieved.

As for the plans: I do think the French plan is rushed, the thing is I don;t see why a political ahndover means no reconstruction aid, or Americna troops for Security. The uS gave billions to fully independent states in Europe, not to states under US control coming up with a constitution, so while I think passing political control to a council that is NOt ready is hasty, I also do not see why a hyandover means the end of US forces or money as well.

[lord of the mark]

AFP, Sept 16

'In an interview with PBS television's "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," Levitte said that Paris would favor "first a symbolic transfer of sovereignty."

He pointed out that it was "not yet" time to hand over real power to the Iraqi Governing Council, a US-installed body controlled by US civilian administrator Paul Bremer.

Therefore, Levitte continued, France would support "a transfer of responsibilities into the hands of the ministers as soon as they are ready to exert these responsibilities."

France has initially proposed a compressed timetable for restoring Iraq's sovereignty following the US-led invasion of the country that toppled the government of Saddam Hussein.


The French plan called for installing a provisional Iraqi government within a month, completing a draft constitution by the end of the year and holding free and fair elections in Iraq next spring.


But now the ambassador said Paris was determined to seek "the best possible" UN Security Council resolution, rather than insist that all of its demands be accepted. '

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Sprayber



Whoever in their wildest dope induced fantasys thought we would be out of there in 3 months needs to be sent to a treatment hospital for shock therapy..

That would be: Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz . . .

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
Fareed Zaraia on the rush out of Iraq. . .

Wasn't it only a couple months before the US helped set up a government (however farcical) in Afganistan?