Surge Update: New Iraq law lets thousands of Saddam Hussein-era Baathists reclaim government jobs

[Amerigo Vespucci]

New Iraq law lets Baathists reclaim jobs

Iraq's Presidency Issues Law Letting Former Baath Party Members Reclaim Government Jobs

http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/New_Iraq_law_lets_Baathists_reclaim_02032008.html

KIM GAMEL
AP News

Feb 03, 2008 18:25 EST

Iraq's presidency council issued a law Sunday that will allow thousands of Saddam Hussein-era officials to return to government jobs, legislation viewed by the Bush administration as central to mending deep fissures between minority Sunni Arabs and Kurds and the majority Shiites who now wield power.

The measure, which was passed by parliament on Jan. 12, was the first of 18 key U.S.-set benchmarks to become law after months of bitter debate. But it was issued without the signature of the Sunni vice president, and the presidency council cited reservations and plans to seek changes in the bill, clouding hopes it would encourage reconciliation.

The U.S. military, meanwhile, said a soldier had been killed Thursday in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Baghdad, raising to at least 40 the number of troop deaths reported in January, nearly double the 23 recorded in December and the largest monthly toll for the Americans since 65 in September.

A U.S. soldier also died of non-combat causes in Ninevah province in northern Iraq, the military said Sunday. At least 3,945 members of the U.S. military have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

"The Surge is workin', Stretch!