NYT: Powell Gives Iraq 6 Months to Write Constitution

[kskiska]

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, responding to demands from France and others for a rapid timetable for self-rule in Iraq, said yesterday that the United States would set a deadline of six months for Iraqi leaders working under the American-led occupation to produce a new constitution for their country.

The constitution, which would spell out whether Iraq should be governed by a presidential or parliamentary system, would clear the way for elections and the installation of a new leadership next year, Mr. Powell said. Not until then, he added, would the United States transfer authority from the American-led occupation to Iraq itself.

"We would like to put a deadline on them," he said in an interview with editorial writers, editors and reporters for The Times, referring to the Iraqi task of writing a constitution. "They've got six months. It'll be a difficult deadline to meet, but we've got to get them going."

(snip)

Mr. Powell's establishment of a deadline, and his tone of urgency in general, came as the United States has tried to satisfy France and other skeptical nations who say that a quick transfer of power to Iraqis must be part of any Security Council resolution expanding United Nations authority in Iraq.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2003/09/26/international/middleeast/26DIPL.html?hp

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Lies and promises

This would be encouraging if it came from some other administration, but not from this one.

Promises, promises, promises. How many have we heard? The Iraqi people will welcome us a liberators with open arms and the occupation will be short and sweet. Lies, lies, lies.

Why should we believe this?

[lanlady]

2. and just how are the political parties and institutions

supposed to materialize?

[Don_G]

3. Too Much Bullwinkle

"Watch me pull a rabbit outta my hat!"

[stevedeshazer]

4. How incredibly presumptuous

When did the Iraqis ask for a "forced" democracy at gunpoint?

Powell: "Write a constitution, or else."

And if they don't? We stay and run their oil business for them, skimming the profits and providing security at U.S. taxpayer expense.
:grr:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. Or the U. S. will attack!! Oh, wait...

[xchrom]

6. arms akimbo, toe tapping

''you've got 6 months to clean my mess up!''

[argonne]

7. Note in the story Powell

went TO the Times. Real chummy. Also notice the tone of the Times lead editorial today--maybe Bush got bad intelligence! Sure.

[Shadder]

8. Maybe Bush has any intelligence at all?

...

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. Why not just send them ours?

We don't seem to have much use for it anymore... :-(

[LeftistGorilla]

10. Powell Gives Iraq 6 Months to Write Constitution

are The US will invade.... errrr wait...