WP: A Grand Mission Ends Quietly (Bremer)

[kskiska]

Tuesday, June 29, 2004; Page A01

BAGHDAD, June 28 -- L. Paul Bremer arrived here almost 14 months ago with a seemingly limitless reserve of energy and a mission unparalleled in U.S. diplomatic history: to remake a nation by using near-dictatorial powers.

When he left Iraq on Monday after surrendering authority to an interim government, it was with a somber air of exhaustion. There was no farewell address to the Iraqi people or a celebratory airport sendoff. Instead of a festive handover ceremony on Wednesday, the date set for the transfer, an improvised event occupied five minutes on a Monday morning.

The secrecy and brevity of the ceremony were in keeping with the precarious future of the Iraq that Bremer built. Setting out with a vision to transform Iraq into a model of Western democracy and capitalism for the rest of the Arab world, he has left behind a country freed from a tyrannical past but also with grave security threats, a sputtering economy and an appointed government with little popular support.

(snip)

Any public celebration of U.S. achievements here would have been a target not only for insurgents, but for questioning of Bremer and the CPA's unfinished business, from promises to double electrical power generation to training thousands more police officers.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13216-2004Jun28.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. do i hear a rousing cheer? [listens... holds breath... turns blue...]

nope.

[shraby]

3. I can just see him giving a

farewell speech to the people while dodging incoming shells. Might have made it a tad difficult.

[kskiska]

2. Further down:

A top aide to Bremer warned reporters a week ago that the transfer of political authority in Iraq would not resemble the British handover in Hong Kong in 1997, a multi-day affair replete with marching bands, honor guards and fireworks.

Even so, some Americans and Iraqis here were taken by surprise by Monday's lack of historical moment. To some Iraqis, it seemed as if Bremer had slighted them one final time by not making the handover into a grander gesture. To some Americans working for the CPA, it recalled to the departure of U.S. diplomats from Saigon in 1975.

"I knew there were big security concerns, but I figured that at the very least we'd have a ceremony with a few hundred Iraqis -- something that would be televised for the country to see," one American working for the CPA said. "This was embarrassing."

Another CPA staff member described Bremer's departure as a "tail-between-your-legs exit."

[pinniped]

4. "Monday's lack of historical moment..."

but we be able to see the famous * & CONdi ass wiping napkin at the Smithsonian.:crazy:

Hey what about the still unaccounted for billions that was last seen with the cpa?

Did viceroy Bummer steal it?

[jdj]

5. now we know what GOP really stands for:

group of p@ssies.

[teryang]

6. With his tail between his legs

<To some Americans working for the CPA, it recalled to the departure of U.S. diplomats from Saigon in 1975.>

[hansolsen]

7. A telling day

When the historians write the definitive story of Bush War II, and put together the usual timeline of key events, today's premature "handover" will get a label befitting the fact that Bremer had to slink away in disgrace out of fear of Iraqi retaliation. I nominate this tag:

June 28, 2004: The day Bush turned and ran.

[markses]

8. Grand Mission? This reckless slaughter?

Please, Washington Post. Cut the effing bullshit.

[sendero]

13. Exactly...

... what "Grand Mission"? Who comes up with these grandiose, delusional descriptions? Can I have some of what they are smoking?

[daleo]

9. Brave Sir Robin

Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot.
He was not afraid to die, O brave Sir Robin.
He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways,
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin!

He was not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp,
Or to have his eyes gouged out and his elbows broken,
To have his kneecaps split and his body burned away
And his limbs all hacked and mangled, brave Sir Robin!

His head smashed in and his heart cut out
And his liver removed and his bowels unplugged
And his nostrils raped and his bottom burned off
And his pen--

Brave Sir Robin ran away,
Bravely ran away, away.
When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
And gallantly, he chickened out. Bravely taking to his feet,
He beat a very brave retreat,
Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin.

He is packing it in and packing it up
And sneaking away and buggering up
And chickening out and pissing off home,
Yes, bravely he is throwing in the sponge.

[struggle4progress]

12. Bremer has decided "that's enough music for now." eom

[thebigidea]

10. scattered picturies... of the stooge I used to love...

Oh, remember when those two were riding high?

[jeff5]

11. The Most Dangerous Place in Iraq Monday

was between Bremer and his plane.