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| Axis of Evil |
| Saddam Foes Urge Federal, Tolerant Iraq |
| 2002-12-14 |
| Opponents of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein met in London on Saturday to map out a future for the country and called for a federal, tolerant Iraq in the event Saddam is ousted from power. That'd be a nightmare for the House of Sod, and an invitation — nay, a demand — to Iran to get to work on subverting it... Up to 1,000 people, including 330 delegates and scores of reporters and security guards gathered at a plush hotel on the invitation of a committee representing six opposition groups recognized by the United States. The meeting, which had been postponed three times due to arguments about who should control it, heard calls for a federal Iraq, liberated from Saddam's Ba'ath Party, and for an Iraq free of extremism. Well, relatively free from extremism... "Federalism is practiced in 70 countries worldwide," said Jalal Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan — one of two Kurdish parties which control northern Iraq. "It will foster unity in Iraq." I'm not sure I see that in Iraq's future, but go ahead. Most things are better than what they have now... Abdelaziz Hakim, a senior official in the Tehran-based Shi'ite Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution of Iraq (SCIRI), warned any future government must safeguard the country's assets, mainly its vast oil reserves, from foreign domination. "Extremism has no place in the future of Iraq," Hakim added to cries of "Praise to Mohammad" from his supporters in the conference hall. Good idea. They're Shi'ites. Get a definition of extremism before giving them money... SCIRI and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan are two of four groups at the conference which have formed a loose alliance known as the Group of Four. The others are the Kurdistan Democratic Party and former members of Saddam's Ba'ath party. The Four are opposed to the two remaining groups at the conference: the Iraqi National Congress, which is led by former banker Ahmad Chalabi, and a monarchist movement. All six groups are recognized by the United States, which coaxed them together to form what could effectively be a government-in-exile. U.S. officials visited London to push for the conference after attempts to convene it in Amsterdam and Brussels failed. It's pretty much a fruit basket they've put together, with apples and oranges. There are a few nuts, as well... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |