Why is the U.S. Muzzling Saddam's Foes, the Exiled Iraqi National Congress?

NY Post ^ | 3/28/03 | Michael Ledeen

[Dr. Scarpetta]

EVEN with coalition forces engaged in Iraq, the State Department, the CIA and other key agencies remain hostile to the Iraqi National Congress - demonstrably the most effective, most representative and most democratic anti-Saddam Iraqi organization.

It would seem elementary common sense to work with the INC: It can speak to the Iraqi people as one Iraqi to another, give them guidance that is untarnished by the accents of Americans who have betrayed the Iraqis in the past and credibly explain the democratic goals of the coalition forces.

[TommyDale]

To answer the author....

It has been made clear that the U.S./British want to keep any political "timebomb" out of the picture until the war is completely over. Then, the intent is to bring the South (Shi'ites), the North (Kurds) and the exiled Iraqis in for a summit to work out a government agreement for all. This is no different that the Afghanistan arrangement.

[ExpandNATO]

Making the typical American mistake of waiting till the war is over to get the politics straight. If they keep the INC out, then it will be at a disadvantage versus the Kurds and the Shiites, who will both be able to say "We fought Saddam, where were you." Bring the INC in NOW!

[ExpandNATO]

In addition, if the INC is not on the ground now, someone unpleasant from Saddam's regime could make a case for being the representative for the center of the country, simply by being the one that hands over Saddam or other important political target.

The US government establishment has something against the INC, but will not make its case properly, in public.

[Captain Kirk]

Afghanistan arrangement?! Is that the model? Now I am really worried! Karzai is mayor of Kabul (and nothing else), the rest of the country is dominated by warlords, and the heroin crop is reaching record levels

[Blood of Tyrants]

Perhaps establishing regional interim governments isn't such a bad idea.

[Captain Kirk]

Just like Cheney "properly" predicted that the Iraq's would put up on a nominal fight and we would be greeted like liberators? Since we have made the foolish mistake of getting involved in this medieval hell-hole, it makes no sense to delay the process of setting of an interim Iraqi government and then getting the hell out! Unfortunately, we will not to do this and and will probably dig ourselves deeeper in this hole.

[goldstategop]

State and the CIA wants a friendly dictator not Iraqi democrats in charge of Iraq. No wonder they're going to extreme legths to muzzle Iraqi exiles who don't toe State and the CIA's party line about Iraq's future.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

*Ping

[meenie]

The INC is controlled by the Shiites. The disadvantage of them getting the upper hand is the threar they want to combine with Iran. The head of the INC stated a couple of days ago that he wanted the US out of Iraq pronto, as soon as Saddam was eliminated. This is part of the problems the US faces.

[Captain Kirk]

Your statement shows again the dangers of the Wilsonian/paternalistic outlook. Social engineers always think that they can effortless "fine tune" events and tend to discount the possibility unintended consquences. Unfortunately, they are already being proven wrong in Iraq. They are still not "getting it" as the current love of a lame-brained MacArthur regency shows.

[Captain Kirk]

I meant "they are still not getting it" since you did not endorse a MacArthur regency.....or did you?

[TLBSHOW]

bookmarked for later

[Dr. Scarpetta]

*Hope you don't mind the Ping, but I saw your names on another thread and wanted to pass this along.

EVEN with coalition forces engaged in Iraq, the State Department, the CIA and other key agencies remain hostile to the Iraqi National Congress - demonstrably the most effective, most representative and most democratic anti-Saddam Iraqi organization.

[xm177e2]

I'm with Ledeen. If we want to see uprisings, we need the opposition groups to be able to do their jobs. This administration has to

LET THE OPPOSITION WIN!

Failure to cooperate with them will mean failure in Iraq, or at least a much, much more difficult time of things.

[kanawa]

Links please.

[mabelkitty]

Why does a State bureacrat have more power than Congress?

This is the bigger issues here.

[meenie]

I'm not endorsing anything. I am stating what I heard on the TV as the head of the Iraqi National Congress was speaking. I described this as one of the problems the US faces in democratizing Iraq.

[rrrod]

agree 100%

[Captain Kirk]

Well...the Shiites are 70 percent population so under any majoritarian democracy they would rule anyway. You can not ignore that fact.