Sink or Swim: Iraq is Free

“History Arrives In Baghdad: U.S. Turns Over Power To Iraq
White House Welcomes Surprise Move

POSTED: 4:47 am EDT June 28, 2004
UPDATED: 6:53 am EDT June 28, 2004

Baghdad, Iraq -- Iraq is a sovereign country ahead of schedule.

History arrived quietly in Baghdad Monday morning as the U.S.-led coalition transferred power to Iraq's interim government.

The transfer was sped up two days in an apparent bid to surprise insurgents -- who may have tried to sabotage the scheduled handover of power.

Only a dozen officials were present at the ceremony in the heavily guarded Green Zone. Former chief civilian administrator Paul Bremer handed over legal documents that were accepted by Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who calls this "a historical day."

Bremer said Iraq is "ready for sovereignty" and that he leaves Iraq "confident in its future."

Iraq's interim government will have full sovereignty but it will operate under major restrictions.

Some of them have been imposed at the urging of the influential Shiite clergy which has sought to limit the powers of an unelected administration.

The new government's major tasks will be to prepare for elections by Jan. 31, handle the day-to-day running of the country and work along with the U.S.-led multinational force, which is responsible for security.

The Iraqis could ask foreign troops to leave -- although that's unlikely to happen.

A senior coalition official said all ministers in the new government are to be sworn in later Monday.

The White House, meanwhile, is welcoming the move. A spokesman said it stands to bolster the new government's effort to fight terrorism.

The two world leaders at the forefront of the invasion of Iraq were nowhere near Baghdad when sovereignty was restored.

Both President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were gathered around a table in Istanbul, Turkey, along with other world leaders attending a NATO summit.

Bush, who'd known the schedule to transfer power was being sped up, checked his watch, covered his mouth and whispered a comment that couldn't be overheard as he leaned over to his British counterpart. The two shook hands.

The two are planning joint statements to reporters later Monday.

There was a wide smile from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, stationed one row behind Bush.

Bush had been briefed Sunday that the interim Iraqi government was ready to take over power early.

A senior U.S. official declared it a proud day for Iraq.

The official added that an early transfer had been under discussion with Allawi for at least a week -- and ultimately, it was his call.

The official said Allawi concluded all of his ministries were ready -- and moving early would "strengthen his hand" against insurgents.

Meantime, an aide to Iraq's former U.S. administrator said he's "going home."

Bremer left Iraq on a military plane, accompanied by coalition spokesman Dan Senor and other close members of his staff.

Bremer's last moments in Iraq were spent meeting with Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top U.S. commander in the country.

Source: Legal Custody Of Saddam To Be Transferred

A coalition source said the coalition will transfer legal custody of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein to the new Iraqi government in a week.

Saddam will physically stay in the custody of the U.S. military because officials think Iraq doesn't have a prison strong enough to hold him.

The recently created Iraqi Special Tribunal is expected to try Saddam for alleged atrocities he committed during his 23-year rule.

What Comes Next?
Here are the key steps to come in Iraq's transition to democracy:

2004

July: Conference of prominent Iraqis chooses Interim National Council to advise interim government.
September: Voter registration begins.

2005

By Jan. 31: Elections for Transitional Government.
Winter/spring: Constitutional convention convenes to draw up permanent charter.
October: Referendum on ratification of proposed constitution.
December: Elections to select constitutionally based government







Being two days ahead of schedule will help out the PR department.

Keep yer eyes peeled to tha Tee Vee. Other deadlines are approaching......”

“Good, now we can withdraw from the cities and garrison our troops in more safety in Western Iraq.

Is the sky still falling, Chicken Littles?”

“No, Mutt, it's now a wonderful vacation spot. Post some pics after your next visit. :)”

“Little will really change but then again, our work there is not done.”

“Sure, Mutt!

I wish them well.

Only time will tell.”

“Happy Hot Potato Day Iraq! (or is that potatoe?)”

“You'd have to ask Dan Kwail. LOL!”

“LMAO @ treebeard.”

“Do you think travel aghents will be setting up travel packages for tourists now that all is peachy there? And will the hat box for my head included in the package?”

“Everything if fine now...nothing to worry about.

Our young men and women are only there on a police action, all the shooting, bombing and hostage taking will surely stop now.”

“Did anyone read about the edicts Bremer issued before fleeing? I'm sure the Iraqi people will be relieved that all those dangerous car horn honkers and one handed drivers are history.”

“I wonder if anyone thought to search Bremer's bags as he left:

Reports say billions of dollars of Iraqi money unaccounted for


LONDON (AP) Billions of dollars belonging to Iraq is not accounted for by the Coalition Provisional Authority, which was given responsibility by the United Nations for the country's finances, British lawmakers and aid activists said Monday.
<snip>”

“Violin has always struggled with HTML...

:-)”

“"And will the hat box for my head included in the package?....."



That's the funniest chit I've heard in a real long time!”

“Can we go help the Sudan now before a real Genocide unfolds?”

“There's already been 35,000 slaughtered there. Where's the beloved UN?”

“Maybe their shy after what happened in Rwanda?

If everyone keeps asking "who's going to do what" then the "problem" will be gone.”

“"Maybe their shy after what happened in Rwanda?"

Or more likely Coffee-annin fears the Muslim voting block?”

“Arab Muslims are Killing African Muslims in Sudan. It's Race, not Religion.

The moral thing for this country would be to intervene. What are we waiting for?”

“We're a little overextended at the moment bearmagnet.”

“Right. Got to keep Europe free from the commies. Over extension, I believe, is not an excuse.

Did everyone know Iceland spends no money on the Military? The "Icelandic Defense Force" is maintained and paid for by the US. Just one example of our overextension.

Sorry. I read about the Sudan every day and I'm getting really pissed off.”

“"Sorry. I read about the Sudan every day and I'm getting really pissed off."

Why? Saddam was killing thousands upon thousands and we weren't justified to go in. Why Sudan and not Iraq?”

“BM - dude, i don't think there's that much oil in suddan - otherwise we'd have taken care of that place a l o n g time ago.”

“Sudan, unlike Iraq, will involve Genocide. And since you have used that reasoning in the past, Nigal, shouldn't it be "Since Iraq, why not Sudan?"

Some countries have big Oil ties with the Sudan, sacco. And unfortunately they sit on the UN Security Counsel. Russia is one.”

“"BM - dude, i don't think there's that much oil in suddan - otherwise we'd have taken care of that place a l o n g time ago."

Is it OK if we not call him BM. It just sounds dirty.”

“Don't call him #2 either!”

“"Sudan, unlike Iraq, will involve Genocide.”

Check with the Kurds and get back to me on this one. They may see it differently.

The attitudes of the Arab Muslims against the black Muslims is a wider held attitude than you might think. Otherwise, why aren’t the Muslims stepping in and taking care of their own? It is illegal by the quran to kill another Muslim.”

“According to Human Rights Watch, there was no active genocide in Iraq. That was going on when Uncle Donny was shaking hands with Saddam.”

“Yes. I would say the numbers in Iraq are low. I've looked for a comparison but have been unable to find hard numbers. However, The Sudan has lost 2 million in civil war since the 70's. First, it was the North against The South. Now, It's North against West.

And if we are so worried about Kurds one might ask about Turkey's relation with their Kurds.”

“kurds were totally being screwed by saddam.

they're still being screwed by turkey.

now we're screwing them, too - as expected.


and in the future i will refrain from using BM to describe bearmagnet. i never put it together before in my head.

how about bmag? sounds like weak porn.

the photo and model quality of hustler with the nudity of playboy!”

“Maybe I should switch to UrsaMagnet?”

“ursamag sounds like a chick.”

“The question we are all asking is how does this compare to Hitler?”

“Bearattractor? No, never mind. Gonna have to work on this.

BTW - it's China & France with Oil Ties to the Sudan.

But the trouble is that the State Department expects the bargaining for a Security Council resolution to stretch out over several weeks -- a delay that, by the administration's own reckoning, will cost tens of thousands of lives. The rainy season in Darfur is already beginning, making it hard to deliver relief to the region. Mr. Natsios, the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, expects that, if relief supplies don't get to Darfur, the death toll could approach 1 million.


It is outrageous that other members of the Security Council are dragging their feet on a resolution that could relieve the crisis. China and France both have oil investments in Sudan and do not wish to alienate the government; Russia and some non-permanent members of the Security Council such as Pakistan view a resolution as an infringement of sovereignty. In ordinary times, the United States might be able to prod these countries in the right direction. But the Bush administration is devoting its very limited diplomatic capital to Iraq, and there is little left for Darfur. That is why the U.N. resolution may take weeks.”

“Sorry. That stuff is C&P from the Post.”

“just stick with bearmagnet, sounds fine, it's just too long to type out on a regular basis. therefore i'll address you as bmag - king of the weak porn with so-so models.”

“"Is the sky still falling, Chicken Littles?"
-- Mutt
08:27:52 AM
06/28/04


ummm... yes...


BAGHDAD, Sept. 25 -- Less than four months before planned national elections in Iraq, attacks against U.S. troops, Iraqi security forces and private contractors number in the dozens each day and have spread to parts of the country that had been relatively peaceful, according to statistics compiled by a private security firm working for the U.S. government.

Attacks over the past two weeks have killed more than 250 Iraqis and 29 U.S. military personnel, according to figures released by Iraq's Health Ministry and the Pentagon. A sampling of daily reports produced during that period by Kroll Security International for the U.S. Agency for International Development shows that such attacks typically number about 70 each day. In contrast, 40 to 50 hostile incidents occurred daily during the weeks preceding the handover of political authority to an interim Iraqi government on June 28, according to military officials.

continued...”

“Qualcomm and Nana Pacific, two Kawaiti and one Egyptian company are fighting over cell-phone and first responder rights-

They are so busy smelling the profits, that they can't see the fire. The smell of so much money is making them forget about security. So look for even more terrorism, and several kidnappings that won't make the headlines (cuz they are paying off the kidnappers i.e. terrorist)

Let capitalism rule


Haven't heard about how the Kurds feel about democracy. so far it is bad cop/ good cop. Shiite and Sunni press coverage. Probably because the Kurds want their own military and autonomy. and alcohol.”

“The best analysis I've seen lately is this: the insurgents are stepping up the tempo of their operations in time to try to influence the elections. Demonstrating to other Arabs that they can influence American politics would be a Big Thing. With our best guesses at their numbers being a couple thousand, and with numerous casualties reported lately, it's obvious this is an unsustainable burst of activity.

Watch the tempo slow down after the election. As much as the Chicken Littles want to believe the situation is spiraling out of control, and as much as they glory in reports of increased insurgency, the truth is these spikes have been brief in nature and rather disasterous for the insurgents. This will be no exception.”

“Quagmire!
Quagmire!
Quagmire!
Quagmire!
Quagmire!
Quagmire!


The sky is falling! The sky is falling! It's Vietnam all over again! I'm just glad we have a hero like John Kerry around!”

“You seem to be a bit more delusional lately, mutt. I haven’t heard that couple thousand insurgents number thrown around since a few months after Rummy was claiming there was no looting going on - just one guy with a vase over and over. At least you didn’t call them dead-enders. I doubt the insurgents give a rat’s ass about our elections - they just want us out of their damn country.”

“"At least you didn’t call them dead-enders."

No. We call those liberals.”

“http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110005676

Not all the news is bad.”

“At least you didn’t call them dead-enders. I doubt the insurgents give a rat’s ass about our elections

Dead enders wouldn't care about the election; insurgents with political amibitions would. Interesting that you contradict yourself like that....”

“Just change the date range:

"Good, now we can withdraw from the cities and garrison our troops in more safety in Western Iraq.

Is the sky still falling, Chicken Littles?"
Mutt
08:27:52 AM
06/28/04



What say you, Mutt? what happened?”

“*bump*”

“What happened is that Bush can't utilize the military the way it should be utilized before the election. That, and incompetent planning.

The guerillas really don't stand a chance. They've been soundly beaten in every tactical encounter. And, after hundreds or thousands of them have been martyred by our troops, we've seen a decline in operation tempo for a while. The problem is, people like Violin and Buddha Bear want to make believe that we can wage a kinder, gentler war, and they cry when there's collateral damage or when we tread on religious grounds. It's truly ridiculous. The guerrillas know and understand strength. If we were just to brutalize them - I mean no-holds-barred murder - a few times, there would be far less insurgency.”

“I like Mutt's Idea. We do a Sherman's March on their asses!

For recent examples of this type of War and its success we only need to look at the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and the Russians in Chechnya.”

“"What happened is that Bush can't utilize the military the way it should be utilized before the election. That, and incompetent planning."

Yeah, I look for the gloves to come back off a bit once Dubya wins in November.”