Iraqis question unelected leaders

[struggle4progress]

IRAQ:Civilians are skeptical of how complete the actual transfer of power will be on June 30.

<snip>
The opinions of ordinary Iraqis .. have perhaps never been more important. For the first time since the war last year, the success or failure of Iraq's government hinges not on the power and decision-making of Americans but on those of Iraqis. It will be up to the caretaker Iraqi government to build credibility, sap support for a violent insurgency and prepare for elections scheduled for early 2005.

Their ability to achieve those aims will depend on whether Iraqis accept the carefully measured independence that the United States and its allies are prepared to give. At the crowded Shabandar cafe, where aging intellectuals and young agitators huddle over tea and cigarettes, the pessimism about the months ahead is infused with the weariness born of a painful year.
<snip>

For more than a year, the U.S.-led occupation has run itself from the gilded confines of Saddam's Republican Palace in central Baghdad. But when U.S. administrator Paul Bremer officially ends the occupation and hands the reins to incoming ambassador John Negroponte, the new top diplomat will be moving from the palace to a temporary embassy, until a permanent facility is finished. Iraqi political leaders have asked for the palace's prompt return to Iraqis, but the United States says it will retain it for an unspecified period as extra office space.
<snip>

U.S. officials are eager to emphasize how far they are scaling back their presence. Among the 45,000 employees of the Ministry of Electricity, for instance, nine coalition officials will work there after June 30, according to the coalition. The Ministry of Agriculture will have five consultants among 11,000 Iraqi employees. About 1,000 foreign members of the Coalition Provisional Authority will be leaving Iraq in coming weeks, officials say, with about 200 remaining to be joined by an arriving corps of foreign service officers.
<snip>

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/8999709.htm

[0rganism]

1. I'd like to see more serious questioning of our unelected leaders, too

Maybe the Iraqis can show us how.

[struggle4progress]

2. Nice!

:)

[Nihil]

3. Hmmm

Reckon it will take the Iraqis four years to get rid of their imposters too?

[Walt Starr]

4. Majorit of Americans to the Iraqis

We question ours, too!

[pinniped]

5. Tell them Iraqis the so-called handover will be so smooth...

they won't notice a difference at all.

US forces and personnel will still have free reign to kill and torture whoever they want without fear of setting foot into an Iraqi courtroom.