Representatives of seven key Iraqi political parties took the first step toward the transition to a democratically elected government on Monday, approving a plan by U.S. civil administrator L. Paul Bremer III to create a temporary governing council. The unanimous decision by the diverse groups that had stood in opposition to Saddam Hussein set in motion a process that will lead to the establishment of a government to succeed the long tyranny of the ousted dictator's Baath Party. The seven factions' participation in the council, which is expected to give the body greater credibility with Iraqis, had been in doubt. Until recently, there had been a "serious possibility" that some groups would boycott the council, said Zaab Sethna of the Iraqi National Congress, who attended the gathering in this northern mountain resort. Sethna said the Iraqis were swayed by "concessions" offered by Bremer, among them calling the body a governing council rather than a political council to reflect the fact that more power would be put in the hands of Iraqis. The Iraqis, not Bremer, will be able to nominate members of the council. The council will have the power to appoint interim ministers.
| I presume Bremer's retaining veto power over the nominations... |
The creation of an Iraqi council and an interim administration has taken on a new urgency at a time when the U.S. occupation looks increasingly messy. At least 29 U.S. servicemen have been killed since President Bush declared major combat over two months ago, and there are an average of 13 attacks daily on American troops in the country. Bremer's Coalition Provisional Authority is also hampered by sabotage, foot-dragging and general confusion as it tries to restore electricity and other basic services, increase employment and begin postwar reconstruction.
| Part of that's due to the fact that the country was a wreck before we invaded it — Zim-Bob-We, only with oil revenues to keep from going under totally. Sammy might have been a dictator's dictator, but he was a lousy ruler... |
Judging by the style of the meeting, the government that emerges from this new process will be far more transparent and pluralistic than any Iraq has known.
| Which ain't saying much... |
At the 30-foot-long conference table in a cool, well-appointed guesthouse, there were no uniforms. Instead, it was mostly men in business suits. Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani wore a loose, checkered turban, and one man was in traditional Arab dress. One woman also attended. The United States will remain the legal occupying power in Iraq until its authority is turned over to a permanent elected government in one or two years. Bremer set a target of mid-July for convening the council as a way to begin giving Iraqis a chance to govern themselves. |