You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Iraq-Jordan
Transcript of CPA Brief shows media surprised by turnover
2004-06-03
EFL - I was intrigued by yesterday’s post of David Warren’s comments about how the rapid disolution of the IGC was a brilliantly planned move to seize the initiative and effectively transfer sovereignty early to prevent outside interference. This excepted section from a CPA background brief lends credence to Warren’s commentary. Note: evidently there were mike problems so the transcript is hard to read.
Snip- Intro

SR. ADMIN. OFFICIAL: One thing I did want to say in that regard is, I noticed -- you all are in that -- (off mike) -- but I noticed that several days ago, somebody wrote that Pachachi was the American choice; some of you wrote it, maybe even somebody in this room. And then every other story said this. I think this is -- (off mike). It’s not true. In the middle of last week, when it looked as if these two were the strongest contenders -- (off mike) -- were those two gentlemen, Ambassador Bremer and I went back to Washington for guidance. We asked our -- the top of the administration -- these are the two; please express whatever preferences you might have. And fairly rapidly, within, indeed, I think, several hours, the answer came back, either of them would make an excellent president of Iraq, and we don’t have a favorite. And therefore, as these discussions went on, we lobbied for either one. You won’t find any of these people that we talked to who will tell you -- truthfully, anyway -- that we went to them and said you should choose A or B. By the way, there were some other stories, although they’re fewer in number, that had exactly the opposite argument. We didn’t lobby -- (off mike.) We said that we thought either one of them would make a fine president of Iraq. So I’ve corrected that, for what it’s worth...

Q (Name off mike) -- from National Public Radio. Thank you. Do you expect the Governing Council to dissolve? There’s been some discussion --

SR. ADMIN. OFFICIAL: My best understanding is it did.

Q (Off mike.)

SR. ADMIN. OFFICIAL: I think it dissolved this morning.

STAFF (?): Yes, they dissolved this morning. (Off mike.)

SR. ADMIN. OFFICIAL: Okay. It dissolved this morning. It dissolved itself, I believe, if I’m not mistaken. It dissolved itself.

Q: Did they make a statement or anything?

SR. ADMIN. OFFICIAL: Well, I’m --

STAFF (?): (Off mike) -- we can set up --

SR. ADMIN. OFFICIAL: Okay. I know I -- (off mike) -- you’ll have to -- (off mike).

Yes, sir?

Q (Off mike.) So who is running things on the Iraqi side -- (off mike).

SR. ADMIN. OFFICIAL: The prime minister and cabinet.

Q: They’ve actually taken (things over ?)

SR. ADMIN. OFFICIAL: Well, there’s a ceremony today, as you know, which we all, if we can, will go see, at -- this afternoon at 4:00. And then, they’re the interim government of Iraq until the election.
-snip
I expect that Brahimi’s negative comments about Bremer were a reflection of the fact that he had been effectively sandbagged.
Posted by:Super Hose

#4  Gee, do you think someone might have been misunderestimated again? :-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-06-03 11:16:06 PM  

#3  There are a lot of ways that this could turn out badly, but taking the wind out of jihadi plans for a bloodfest on the 30th was an important victory. It may still happen, but this move is about the best move that can be made in preperation for it.
Posted by: Super Hose   2004-06-03 4:41:28 PM  

#2  You can always tell if something is the right choice. If the Arabs bitch and moan about it, it must be the right thing to do.
Posted by: AllahHateMe   2004-06-03 1:11:58 PM  

#1  interesting how silent the blogosphere has been on the transition in Iraq. Everyones too confused, not sure if Dubya won or lost - which is, unfortunately, the principle preoccupation of BOTH sides of the blogosphere, rather than the actual progress of the people of Iraq. The lefties have been concerned that Brahimi got sandbagged - the conservatives seem wary that the US got sandbagged - and the neocons, who should be happy, are wary of Allawi.

I think its taking some time to sink in that A. Having the Iraqis sand bag Brahimi on the top posts was FAR superior to having the US get its picks, from the US point of view. B. That Allawi is really NOT a baathist stooge (I rely on Kanan Makiya on this issue) C. That on those areas where Brahimi may be right - the appointment of secular technocrats to the more junior cabinet posts - Brahimi largely DID get his way. D. How revolutionary a cabinet this is, with its large numbers of women, Kurds, Shiites, and genuine democrats E. How positively this is being received on the street in Iraq. Even NPR (!!!!!!!) this AM reported that Iraqi reaction ranges from supportive to wait and see. The hostility to the new govt is NOT coming from the Baghdad street, its coming from game players in DC, NY, Europe, and the Arab world.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2004-06-03 10:13:04 AM  

00:00