Controlling Iraqi Governance
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| Sun, 06-27-2004 - 2:59pm |
U.S. Edicts Curb Power Of Iraq's Leadership
By Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Walter Pincus
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, June 27, 2004; Page A01
BAGHDAD, June 26 -- U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer has issued a raft of edicts revising Iraq's legal code and has appointed at least two dozen Iraqis to government jobs with multi-year terms in an attempt to promote his concepts of governance long after the planned handover of political authority on Wednesday.
Some of the orders signed by Bremer, which will remain in effect unless overturned by Iraq's interim government, restrict the power of the interim government and impose U.S.-crafted rules for the country's democratic transition. Among the most controversial orders is the enactment of an elections law that gives a seven-member commission the power to disqualify political parties and any of the candidates they support.
The effect of other regulations could last much longer. Bremer has ordered that the national security adviser and the national intelligence chief chosen by the interim prime minister he selected, Ayad Allawi, be given five-year terms, imposing Allawi's choices on the elected government that is to take over next year.
Bremer also has appointed Iraqis handpicked by his aides to influential positions in the interim government. He has installed inspectors-general for five-year terms in every ministry. He has formed and filled commissions to regulate communications, public broadcasting and securities markets. He named a public-integrity commissioner who will have the power to refer corrupt government officials for prosecution.
Some Iraqi officials condemn Bremer's edicts and appointments as an effort to exert U.S. control over the country after the transfer of political authority. "They have established a system to meddle in our affairs," said Mahmoud Othman, a member of the Governing Council, a recently dissolved body that advised Bremer for the past year. "Iraqis should decide many of these issues."
Full article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8665-2004Jun26.html

I find that aspect interesting... Bush poo pooed requirements for involvement of women because he feared the reaction here over our own shortcomings in that regard.
IMO, women were relatively free (as compared to other Islamic countries) under Sadam. There are even women in the government, so I don't think the women of Iraq will go willingly into servitude. My point was that Iraq should not have to follow Bremer's idea of democracy, they should be able to decide for themself.
The Taliban was notoriously brutal to women, this was one of the reasons I supported the invasion of Afghanistan. To me these Afghanistani women are very, very brave. Braver than we could know.
Bremer had an almost impossible task. He has made mistakes but who wouldn't under these conditions. His actions have been under a microscope.
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