Iraqi opposition groups forming interim government in Kurd stronghold

The Scotsman ^ | March 27, 2003 | DAMIEN McELROY

[MadIvan]

We have a government in waiting; hopefully we can get it up and running as quickly as possible.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[EternalVigilance]

“They will be killed whatever happens, if not by the Americans then by us.”

I think that epitaph would fit most associated with this regime.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

"The latest reports from inside Baghdad-controlled territory suggests that Saddam has replaced Republican Guard units with the feared Muhajideen-e-Halk, a murderous militia of Iranians that have been supported by the regime for a decade."

“These people are worse than even the Fedayeen because they have nothing to lose,” said Musawi. “They will be killed whatever happens, if not by the Americans then by us.”

Now I think I have heard everything.

[TigerLikesRooster]

RE #1

If the news about the new regime spreads along with the ever tightening grip of the coalition force around Baghdad, locals will begin to change side and actively help the coalition forces, providing vital intel or turning on the Saddadm's thugs. We should get the momentum toward the new regime going among local populations. We have to make them firmly believe that the tide is irreversibly turned.

As in Afghan, it will be locals' participation which will lead to the quick decisive collpase of the regime.

[denydenydeny]

A very important story. It wouldn't surprise me if this group were named as a provisional government as soon as Baghdad is completely surrounded.

[Mister Baredog]

based in the village of Shawais and face the task of integrating fundamentalist Shia militia, like the Iran-backed Badr Brigade with the tribal peshmerga and Sunni Arab fighters drawn from the diaspora.

We're going to need a scorecard to follow this!

[Mister Baredog]

It wouldn't surprise me if this group were named as a provisional government as soon as Baghdad is completely surrounded.

Chirac will just s**t!

[Thinkin' Gal]

A four-man leadership committee of prominent opposition figures – Ahmed Chalabi, Massoud Barzani, Jalal Talabani and Abul Aziz Hakim – has been named at the head of the Iraqi Interim Authority.

"Prominent opposition figures" looks to be a euphemism for "target-rich environment".

[Illbay]

I think as a reward to the Turks for their exemplary support for us, we need to take that northern chunk of Iraq, and form an independent Kurdistan.

The Kurds deserve their own state, and the Turks deserve to have one right on their ***** border.

This is only partly to spite Turkey. I am series about the Kurds deserving a reward for helping us.

[GraniteStateConservative]

He looks Jewish to me.

[WOSG]

That note about Iranians reminds me of the 'foreigners' (mainly pakistanis) who were with the taliban/al quaeda , and who were killed by northern alliance when overrunning afghanistan. They would let afghans surrender but not
the 'foreigners' - they just killed them.

These Iranians may be desperate to surrender to US soon enough, to save their skin. (We'll never do to them what the Iraqi did to our captured soldiers.)

[solzhenitsyn]

Chalabi: " ... to accept a military governor ... is not something acceptable to us ..."

Who asked him? We don't need this sort of arrogance and ingratitude right from the "git-go". I think we should dump him and pick someone who hasn't already forgotten who's done all the heavy lifting. We don't need or deserve an Iraqi Charles DeGaulle.

[John Valentine]

With all due respect, I think you don't have a clue what you are talking about. Some people are better advised to read and learn before mouthing off.

[Sparta]

Looks like a good Iraqi government in exile. However, I have no use for Chalabi. I prefer either the Jordanians annex the country or we directly occupy it. Chalabi has too much baggage IMHO.

[Sparta]

But the other three aren't too bad.

[solzhenitsyn]

With all due respect, I think you don't have a clue what you are talking about. Some people are better advised to read and learn before mouthing off.

I'll readily admit that I know less than I'd like to about the situation, but I'm eager to learn from an authority. Please, what in your opinion makes Mr. Chalabi the best qualified person to head the new Iraqi government, and what gives him standing to tell his liberators that an interim military government would not be acceptable? Don't feel that you need to spare specific details, I'm a patient man.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[solzhenitsyn]

John Valentine, I'm sorry about my sarcastic response.

I do have a problem with Ahmed Chalabi's ambition and self-importance. Also have some concern about the Petra Bank matter and the questions over the accounting at INC. Wish I knew the truth about those issues, and I'd welcome informed opinions from anyone here. All I know is what I've seen in newspaper accounts, and I remember little of that.

[solzhenitsyn]

Sparta, I'd like to see Iraq governed by the US military until the country's healthy and stable enough to be run by a government elected by all Iraqis. Having said that, it could be useful to have at least some sort of figurehead governing body composed of Iraqi nationals, subordinate to the US military governor. I can think of several reasons; guess the one simplest stated is that it could give potential Iraqi leaders an exposure to the mechanics of running a government, and it would give the Iraqi public a chance to observe and evaluate these potential leaders before voting in their first democratic elections.

I hope we don't too quickly hand over the reins to an ambitious "strongman" who's not popularly elected, and who decides he'd like to stay in office indefinitely. There are enough "presidents for life" in this world already.