Occupation Ends
OCCUPATION ENDS
Ending the occupation of Iraq was probably the best bit of good news coming in from that area during the last two years. I haven’t seen any reports telling of the joy of the local citizens, but I am sure they were glad to learn that the infidels from America were leaving their country. Here at home it should be good news also. It would surely mean that we would be bringing home those war weary service men who have given such a big chunk of their lives to the cause of fighting the terrorist forces of the world. And we won’t have to send back those soldiers who have been at home enjoying their families for the past few months. Thanks are due to President Bush for keeping his word that on June 30, 2004 we would return sovereignty to the Iraqi people.
Unfortunately there were a few “fast reading clauses” in the agreement. And those clauses will surely cast a gloomy shadow over the celebrations in Iraq and here in the U S A. It will be easier to understand if we list those clauses:
1. The government of Iraq will be designated as “The Interim Government” which has limited power.
2. The United States has established an Embassy from which the Ambassador will exercise authority growing out of certain rules and edicts.
3. The U S appointed electoral commission is empowered to eliminate political parties or candidates it disapproves of.
4. Political parties with militias are not permitted.
5. An edict bans “hate speech” and advocacy of terrorism, worded to give the authorities power to censor or disqualify candidates.
6. Immunity was granted to US and other foreign civilian contractors from Iraq law, even after the end of the occupation.
7. Before leaving we bestowed on our Iraq cronies five-year appointments to important government positions such as head of intelligence and the head of national security.
8. Economic regulations were extended to limit taxation of foreign corporations and permitting foreign ownership of Iraqi companies.
These edicts and official actions give the Iraqi people a pretty clear picture of the kind of government we expect them to create and will generate little good will among the people whom we were surely hoping would become our friends after the occupation is ended.
Further, US military forces will remain in Iraq to maintain security until elections are held and a new permanent government is installed.
These data give a pretty clear picture of the limitations on the operation of the Interim government of Iraq, and a casual review of the 8 items above will give one a pretty accurate vision of the expected results. Certainly, a review of these items reveals the hypocrisy of our claim that we are returning sovereignty to the Iraqi people. It also shows how little the Bush administration has learned from the bungling results of the occupation resulting from our failure to make adequate plans before launching the war in the first place.
Jerry Clements 7/25/04
Ending the occupation of Iraq was probably the best bit of good news coming in from that area during the last two years. I haven’t seen any reports telling of the joy of the local citizens, but I am sure they were glad to learn that the infidels from America were leaving their country. Here at home it should be good news also. It would surely mean that we would be bringing home those war weary service men who have given such a big chunk of their lives to the cause of fighting the terrorist forces of the world. And we won’t have to send back those soldiers who have been at home enjoying their families for the past few months. Thanks are due to President Bush for keeping his word that on June 30, 2004 we would return sovereignty to the Iraqi people.
Unfortunately there were a few “fast reading clauses” in the agreement. And those clauses will surely cast a gloomy shadow over the celebrations in Iraq and here in the U S A. It will be easier to understand if we list those clauses:
1. The government of Iraq will be designated as “The Interim Government” which has limited power.
2. The United States has established an Embassy from which the Ambassador will exercise authority growing out of certain rules and edicts.
3. The U S appointed electoral commission is empowered to eliminate political parties or candidates it disapproves of.
4. Political parties with militias are not permitted.
5. An edict bans “hate speech” and advocacy of terrorism, worded to give the authorities power to censor or disqualify candidates.
6. Immunity was granted to US and other foreign civilian contractors from Iraq law, even after the end of the occupation.
7. Before leaving we bestowed on our Iraq cronies five-year appointments to important government positions such as head of intelligence and the head of national security.
8. Economic regulations were extended to limit taxation of foreign corporations and permitting foreign ownership of Iraqi companies.
These edicts and official actions give the Iraqi people a pretty clear picture of the kind of government we expect them to create and will generate little good will among the people whom we were surely hoping would become our friends after the occupation is ended.
Further, US military forces will remain in Iraq to maintain security until elections are held and a new permanent government is installed.
These data give a pretty clear picture of the limitations on the operation of the Interim government of Iraq, and a casual review of the 8 items above will give one a pretty accurate vision of the expected results. Certainly, a review of these items reveals the hypocrisy of our claim that we are returning sovereignty to the Iraqi people. It also shows how little the Bush administration has learned from the bungling results of the occupation resulting from our failure to make adequate plans before launching the war in the first place.
Jerry Clements 7/25/04
posted by Jeremiah | 3:02 PM
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