White House split on how to restore Iraqi self-rule

[Pale Blue Dot]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/7803763.htm

Publicly, the White House and the U.S. administrator in Iraq, L. Paul Bremer, remain committed to turning over power July 1 to an interim government selected by an interim assembly chosen through regional caucuses.

Privately, President Bush's national security aides are debating a number of U.S. and British fallback options, including acceding to a demand by Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, that the assembly be directly elected.

Vice President Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld favor a proposal to turn over power early - by April 1 - to the Governing Council, a body of U.S.-installed Iraqi leaders, said two senior U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.

<snip>

National security adviser Condoleezza Rice and senior U.S. diplomats prefer a "go slow" approach, said the second senior U.S. official.

[0007]

1. Hmm - What argument is Ahmed Chalabi rooting for and why?

[Pale Blue Dot]

2. According to the article

Cheney's plan. It would likely keep him in power.

[snippy]

3. Cheney and Rummy want Iraq run by their wholly owned subsidiary.

Bush probably will cave to this cabal, but Turd Blossom Rove likely will push the time table back from April 1 so that there is less time for a disaster to occur between the turnover and the US election.

[grytpype]

4. Figures that Rummy and Cheney want to get out the quickest.

They have the most blood on their hands, have to get the public to avert their gaze ASAP.

[Bandit]

5. Let's put Haliburton in charge

They are the only company on the face of the earth that can meet the challenges of Iraq. That is what we were told when No-Bid contracts were dished out, so it must still be true.

[yellowcanine]

6. Does anyone think this crowd has a clue?

What a Keystone Cops operation this whitehouse is. I sure am glad "the adults are in charge" again. BTW - has anyone noticed that George Will hasn't used that line in quite a while?

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Bloody Civil War

Otherwise known as Iraqi self rule. Upon the departure of US troops expect to see a siege on the "green zone", the execution of the governing council, and the emergence of radical Islamic rule. So, don't expect the departure of US troops anytime soon, say the next 50 years, or until the oil runs out.