With the pre-empted declaration of victory by the Bush administration surely soon to come I thought it would be useful to look back at how democracy was actually brought to Iraq.
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/iraqtimeline2.htmlJuly 13, 2003
Iraq's interim governing council, composed of 25 Iraqis appointed by American and British officials, is inaugurated. The council has power to name ministers and will help draw up a new constitution for the country. The American administrator Paul Bremer, however, retains ultimate authority.
Nov. 14, 2003
The Bush Administration reverses policy and in a deal with the Iraqi Governing Council, agrees to transfer power to an interim government in early 2004.
Jan. 11, 2004
The Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most influential Shiite cleric in Iraq, says members of the country's interim government must be selected by direct vote. He opposes the U.S. plan to hold regional caucuses. While caucuses are less democratic than direct elections, the United States has argued that it would be impossible to ensure free and safe elections on such a tight timetable—the U.S. plans to hand control of the government to Iraqis on June 30.
Jan. 15, 2004
Tens of thousands of Shiites hold a peaceful demonstration in Basra in support of direct elections.
Jan. 19, 2004
The United States asks the UN to intercede in the dispute over the elections process in Iraq. Shiite leader Ayatollah al-Sistani, at the center of the debate, has refused to meet with American officials. The UN weighs sending election experts to determine whether there is enough time to prepare for direct elections.
About 100,000 Shiites march in Baghdad and other cities in support of Ayatollah al-Sistani's demand for direct elections. It is the largest protest since the occupation of Iraq.
Feb. 12, 2004
UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, on a fact finding mission to Iraq to assess the feasibility of direct elections, meets with Ayatollah al-Sistani
Feb. 19, 2004
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi announces the results of its report about Iraqi elections, concluding that "elections cannot be held before the end of June, that the June 30 date for the handover of sovereignty must be respected, and that we need to find a mechanism to create the caretaker government and then prepare the elections sometime later in the future."
April 15, 2004
The Bush administration agrees to a UN proposal to replace the Iraqi Governing Council with a caretaker government when the U.S. returns sovereignty to Iraqis on June 30.
June 8, 2004
The UN Security Council unanimously passes a resolution endorsing the appointment of an interim government in Iraq. It authorizes U.S. military forces to remain in the country until Jan. 2006.
Jan. 30, 2005
Iraq's elections to select a 275-seat National Assembly went ahead as scheduled, and turnout of eligible Iraqis was estimated to have reached 60%. But violence accompanied the voting, with 260 attacks taking place on Jan. 30, the largest number since the war began. At least 44 people were killed.
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