Grim Iraq reality dawns for Bush: an Islamic republic is taking shape

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Grim Iraq reality dawns for Bush

Robin Wright and Ellen Knickmeyer

August 16, 2005

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Focus/GH16Dh01.html

The Bush administration is significantly lowering expectations of what can be achieved in Iraq, recognizing that the United States will have to settle for far less progress than originally envisioned during the transition due to end in four months, according to US officials.

America no longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting oil industry or a society where most people are free from serious security or economic challenges.

``What we expected to achieve was never realistic given the timetable or what unfolded on the ground,'' said a senior official involved in policy since the 2003 invasion. ``We are in a process of absorbing the factors of the situation we're in and shedding the unreality that dominated at the beginning.''

``We set out to establish a democracy, but we're slowly realizing we will have some form of Islamic republic,'' said another US official familiar with policymaking from the beginning. US officials now acknowledge that they misread the strength of sentiment among Kurds and Shiites to create a special status. The Shiites' request this month for autonomy to be guaranteed in the constitution stunned the Bush administration, even after more than two years of intense intervention in Iraq's political process, they said.

[cdeca2005]

1. And all I can think to say is....

No Shit Sherlock.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. indeed. welcome to DU

[Gildor Inglorion]

2. So? It CAN'T be more repressive than Saudi Arabia....

and ** and company just LOVE Saudi Arabia. Keep the oil flowing, keep the profits pouring into Halliburton & so forth, who gives a flyin' f*** about human rights? In fact, an Islamic republic with tough, stringent security may be exactly what the American fascists wanted all along. They don't like democracy in this country; why should they want it for Iraq?

[WinkyDink]

3. perfectly said

If the Bushites could get away with it, they'd be Talibans.

[jose_carlos]

4. if the bushes could get away with it...

but they have! dubya has gotten away with everything he has wanted; hell, he has not even had to fire Rove for the CIA leak fuckup. what dumnasses the american public are, for having the memory of an ardvark!

[newyawker99]

5. Hi jose_carlos!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Gildor Inglorion]

10. Welcome to DU!

[Vinca]

6. I fear for the women of the "new Iraq." nt

[barb162]

7. Something is dawning on Bush and /or this administration?

How is it that I and many others figured that some form of an Islamic government would result before we ever went into that fucking dumb war?

[Jacobin]

8. This was about as unpredictable as gravity

Dumbass neo-con quacks and their 'cowboy' dumbass president.