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| Iraq |
| Iraqis Set To Expand Cabinet (snicker!) |
| 2003-08-27 |
| Move Meant to Ease Allotment of Seats By Daniel Williams Washington Post Foreign Service Wednesday, August 27, 2003 EFL Iraq’s Governing Council, locked in laborious negotiations over choosing a cabinet, is about to expand the number of government ministries from 21 to 25, equal to the number of representatives on the council, Iraqi leaders said today. That’ll make it easier to grease all of the extended palms... Council members said the process of naming a cabinet has been slowed by efforts to apportion the membership among Iraq’s ethnic and religious groups, mainly the Shiite Muslim majority and the minority Sunni Muslims and ethnic Kurds, as well as Christians and women. To break the deadlock, the council will be asked Wednesday morning to formally approve an expanded cabinet that would, in effect, give each council member control over a cabinet post. Of course, the good of Iraq is their first and foremost goal, so the criteria being employed are based upon weighty considerations: what moon phase makes you howl, who butters your bread, who can yodel better - the really important shit. The council, a U.S.-appointed body with limited powers, is under pressure from U.S. officials here to raise its public profile. Though having Iraqis choose their own cabinet is intended to signal the first blossom of their independence, key decisions would still be in the hands of the U.S.-dominated Coalition Provisional Authority. "blossom" - Now isn’t that just precious? Wow. And close with the obligatory jab... otherwise you forfiet your Press Corps credentials, I think... The proposed ministries are women’s affairs, immigration, international cooperation and environment. Ooooh, "International Cooperation" - now that will be a primo post... 5-Star hotels, 1st Class world travel, The Ministry of Pleasure Junkets™ - I want it, I want it! And, of course, there’s so much more... |
| Posted by:.com |
| #8 LH - political whoring is political whoring, no matter who does it. Does that cover your question? Now you go play with the trolls. |
| Posted by: .com 2003-8-27 6:23:04 PM |
| #7 They had to do something with the office buildings anyway now that the bureaucracy surrounding the Huissain family is no more. As one pundit I read in National Post pointed out, you can't let the Ministry of Genital Clamping Stand idle. Property values fall in blighted districts of cities. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-8-27 1:50:02 PM |
| #6 Oh, geez, they're turning into Congress already! |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-8-27 11:03:08 AM |
| #5 all in all A. this (the cabinet) is a good thing B. The article is a good article So whats your problem? Maybe you should go have fun arguing with Murat and Aris. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-27 10:26:35 AM |
| #4 theres so much more,like this quote: 'Well, this is a change from the past. It is not like when Saddam Hussein ruled," said Mowaffak Rubaie, an independent Shiite representative. "He used to name a cabinet in one minute. We have to negotiate." ' |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-27 10:24:56 AM |
| #3 LH - Nope, I didn't. Won't go get one to look it up, either. ;-> I'll take your word for it! Mebbe Daniel Williams was aware of it, however, though I doubt it. I'll bet he just thought he was being clever and "fresh" in his prose. Wanna bet? ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2003-8-27 10:12:33 AM |
| #2 er, uhm, jealous fighting over cabinet posts, and the perks that go with them, is the bread and butter of democracies. Dot com youd better not spend alot of time reading the Jerusalem Post or Haaretz - the manuevering for cabinet posts and perks will be too much for your sensitive soul. 25 isnt an unreasonably large cabinet in such circumstances, and a neat political solution. i mean where did we get the number of 25 for the governing council anyway? enough to give everybody representation and balance. Same considerations that go into making up a cabinet. So just turn the IGC into a cabinet - makes sense to me. BTW "first blossom of independence" curious to note that modern Orthodox and Conservative prayerbooks refer to the state of Israel as "the first blossom of redemption" - is that language too precious???? Now I wouldnt have expected you to know that dot com, but still ..... |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-8-27 10:07:26 AM |
| #1 Don't forget the "Ministry of Special Favors" and the "Ministry of Funny Walks". |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-8-27 2:28:09 AM |