The "handover" is a sham and a farce....

[kentuck]

American troops carry Iraqi flags out to an American podium so the American puppet can make his declarations. Americans have passed down the laws to Allawi that they want to see enforced in Baghdad. One of the new laws require that people driving cars must be licensed. How soon before they are asked for proof of insurance? All of this is alien to most Iraqis. But, in a roundabout way, it should be a clever way to enforce martial law. How many people will be intimidated and will not drive their cars and will stay off the street? How many people in Iraq actually have driver's licenses? This is just one example of the sham.

If there is an assassination, what is the line of succession? Is that spelled out? When there is a carbomb in souther Baghdad, who investigates? The Iraqi police or the American military? Who is going to enforce the martial law if it is installed? Iraqis or Americans? Who is going to provide security to Allawi and the Iraqi leaders? The Iraqi police? There are so many questions. How has anything changed since two days ago?

[ewagner]

1. A few answers/observations

First, Bremer can pass all the "edicts" he wants. The Iraqi's have neither the will nor the capability to enforce them.

Second, I agree that the edicts reflect a cultural arrogance which has been the hallmark of the American occupation of Iraq. It has been culturally insensitive and historically blind.

How has anything changed since two days ago? It hasn't....except possibly for the ability to blame failures, corruption and ineptness on the new Iraqi government.


As usual, very thoughtful post Kentuck.

[kentuck]

3. It does reflect a "cultural arrogance" doesn't it?

You are correct ewagner. And good morning to all! :)

[Q]

2. Quiet! You're not suppose to say it outloud...

...the Democrats and Republicans might hear.

[gasperc]

4. all your questions will be answered in horrifying detail

as the days go by, chaos has a new name-handover

[cthrumatrix]

5. it's all for show, PR and move on to the next country....PNAC

[LittleApple81]

6. The only reason is to save Bush*'s ass (blame Iraqis for hell). n/t

[Raven]

7. I remember when we pulled out of Vietnam,

throngs of South Vietnamese were storming the US compound, trying to scale fences and actually hanging on to the US helicopters as they tried to take off. It was a pathetic scene made more terrible by the realization that so many lives had been lost and many more would die in the days to come.

But Americans back then flipped the channel and went back to their business. They forgot about Vietnam and the people that we left in danger there. The only people who could and would not forget were the soldiers who came home with horrors that would haunt their dreams for years.

Bush & Company were very smart to have a quiet little "turnover" ceremony followed by a fast exit by Bremer. They were smart because they did not repeat the "war is won" gaffe made on the aircraft carrier last year. They know this mess is far from being over and they want the American people to flip the channel and go back to business. They want us to forget and, if the past is precedent, many of us will.

[kentuck]

9. You are correct Raven....

Now they can get back to campaigning for the White House...

[Nadienne]

10. While still calling this a "success"

[anarchy1999]

13. Last night Jon Stewart called it America's 1st "Sneak Retreat".

n/t

[MrBenchley]

8. Yeah, but they have a flat tax.....(snicker)

What this says most of all is that even Bremmer was afraid to stay for the "ceremony."

In the Green Zone.

Surrounded by US troops and his hired mercenaries.

[indigobusiness]

11. It is a travesty, a sham, and a mockery

It has as much substance as a beer commercial.

[kentuck]

12. The families of the troops in Iraq will turn against Bush when....

they see that their loved ones are not coming home, except in bodybags, and that nothing has really changed in Iraq. This is the political downside for Bush that he has not yet figured out. He plans on talking more about the economy and getting people to stop talking about Iraq. If he "didn't think it was the right thing to do", he wouldn't do it...It's difficult to get complex thoughts from a simple mind.

[DesolationRow]

14. Basically nothing has changed.

The key positions are filled with our appointees. The laws made by Bremer are in place. Our contractors, mercs and soldiers are still there. The rebuilding still being done by US companies. The privatization and selling of their resources is already in place and will continue. The largest diplomatic mission in the world is still there. And Iraq is still a terrorist recruitment center.

[kentuck]

15. Welcome DesolationRow !

One of my favorite Dylan songs.