WH weighing bringing in senior army officers from Saddam's regime into new gov't

[sabra]

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2006-11-04\kurd1.htm

U.S. weighing all 'options' to control Iraq

As conditions in Iraq get out of control, the Whitehouse is said to be considering all 'options' in a bid to contain the situation.

A top option for the U.S. administration, well-placed Iraqi officials say, is the formation of a new 'salvation government' that may include senior army officers who were active under the former regime.

The U.S. is reported to be preparing the ground for the formation of such government and would like to have it seen as being a purely Iraqi option.

...

The presence of these generals in the government should be a matter of concern to both groups. It may appease some Sunnis, but it may also send the wrong signal to both the Kurds and Shiites.

But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki seems to be happy with the measure. The analysts say Washington has promised to have him reinstated as premier in the new government and grant him wider powers.

[LynnTheDem]

1. So the "spreading democracy" is "Mission Unaccomplished" then?

US deciding the government of a "SOVEREIGN NATION".

Yeah the world won't see us as hypocritical stupid MFing idiots for that!

:eyes:

[Solly Mack]

2. From 2004

"A funny thing happened on the way toward Iraqi sovereignty."

- snip -

"The Baathists are back. After a year of relentlessly purging members of Saddam Hussein's ruling Baath Party from top positions in the government and Army, the U.S.-led coalition has concluded that it needs their help."

"Take the case of a former general who was in charge of air defenses. In the regime's last days, he drove around with antiaircraft rockets in his car, trying to shoot down American Apache helicopters. Now, the Americans are looking for him. But not to throw him in jail; they want him back in uniform, part of the new Iraqi Army."


http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/040517/17baath.htm

From 2003

U.S. Recruiting Hussein's Spies

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0824-02.htm


Time article from 2005
http://www.back-to-iraq.com/B2I_Extras/Clips_files/Baath_Problem.pdf


Point being - Bush has always included "senior army officers (and others) from Saddam's regime into new gov't" in one form or another.

[acmavm]

3. ???????These guys aren't partners in any 'crimes' that Saddam

might have committed? They didn't carry out his orders?

What the hell kind of reasoning is this?

If he's guilty, so are his officers. Aren't they? Or am I missing something here???

[sabra]

4. looks like things have already started...

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/15942976.htm

Iraq law may reinstate Saddam supporters
Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A day after Saddam Hussein was sentenced to hang, the country's Shiite-dominated government declared a major concession to his Sunni Muslim backers that could see thousands of purged Baath Party members reinstated to their jobs.

The Supreme National Commission for de-Baathification has prepared a draft law with the amendments and will soon send it to parliament for ratification, the commission's executive director, Ali al-Lami told The Associated Press Monday.