A new Iraqi flag, sans the three green stars of Saddam Hussein's Baath party, was hoisted over the Iraqi Cabinet building yesterday.
However, don't become too attached to it, it has only a one year life span, before it is altered again.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Prince Rebukes US
Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, waded into the Iraq fiasco in an interview with the International Herald Tribune. He criticised the US administration for failing to listen to advice from Britain on how to avoid problems following the war in Iraq.
He said that the war had led to a "healthy scepticism" in Britain towards what was said in Washington, noting that the US should have learned lessons from British colonial history.
Doubtless that will go down like a lead balloon in Washington!
Quote:
"..occasions when people in the UK would wish that those in responsible positions in the US might listen and learn from our experiences.
If you are looking at colonialism, if you are looking at operations on an international scale, if you are looking at understanding each other's culture, understanding how to operate in a military insurgency campaign - we have been through them all.
We've won some, lost some, drawn some. The fact is there is quite a lot of experience over here which is valid and should be listened to."
American government officials refused to comment. An insider wisely told the Telegraph that it was not an area they would "want to touch with a bargepole".
The Prince is of course correct.
However, he is assuming that we really pushed our case hard at the time with Washington. After all, we only have Bliar's word for it that we made serious overtures about the post invasion strategy.
He said that the war had led to a "healthy scepticism" in Britain towards what was said in Washington, noting that the US should have learned lessons from British colonial history.
Doubtless that will go down like a lead balloon in Washington!
Quote:
"..occasions when people in the UK would wish that those in responsible positions in the US might listen and learn from our experiences.
If you are looking at colonialism, if you are looking at operations on an international scale, if you are looking at understanding each other's culture, understanding how to operate in a military insurgency campaign - we have been through them all.
We've won some, lost some, drawn some. The fact is there is quite a lot of experience over here which is valid and should be listened to."
American government officials refused to comment. An insider wisely told the Telegraph that it was not an area they would "want to touch with a bargepole".
The Prince is of course correct.
However, he is assuming that we really pushed our case hard at the time with Washington. After all, we only have Bliar's word for it that we made serious overtures about the post invasion strategy.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Re Baathification
Iraq's presidency council issued a law yesterday that will allow thousands of Saddam Hussein-era officials to return to government jobs.
The new law was passed by parliament on January 12. However, it was issued without the signature of the Sunni vice president, and the presidency council cited reservations and plans to seek changes in the bill.
The question is will the former officials feel safe enough to return to their old jobs?
The new law was passed by parliament on January 12. However, it was issued without the signature of the Sunni vice president, and the presidency council cited reservations and plans to seek changes in the bill.
The question is will the former officials feel safe enough to return to their old jobs?
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tactical Error
It seems that Saddam Hussein allowed the world to believe the US claims that he had WMD, in order to deter Iran from launching an attack.
This at least is the view of George Piro, the FBI agent who interviewed Saddam after his 2003 capture.
Piro also claims that Saddam was surprised by the US invasion.
Piro is quoted in CBS 60 Minutes as saying:
"He told me he initially miscalculated ... President Bush's intentions. He thought the United States would retaliate with the same type of attack as we did in 1998 ... a four-day aerial attack.
He survived that one and he was willing to accept that type of attack."
Now the Iraqi people have to deal with the consequences of the errors of Saddam and the US.
This at least is the view of George Piro, the FBI agent who interviewed Saddam after his 2003 capture.
Piro also claims that Saddam was surprised by the US invasion.
Piro is quoted in CBS 60 Minutes as saying:
"He told me he initially miscalculated ... President Bush's intentions. He thought the United States would retaliate with the same type of attack as we did in 1998 ... a four-day aerial attack.
He survived that one and he was willing to accept that type of attack."
Now the Iraqi people have to deal with the consequences of the errors of Saddam and the US.
Monday, January 28, 2008
War in Three Months
As Bush and his colleagues try to console themselves that the so called "surge" has worked, and has achieved a measurable reduction in violence in Iraq, they may care to reflect on an interview given to The Independent by Abu Marouf the Sunni commander of 13,000 fighters who formerly fought the Americans.
Abu Marouf is threatening to withdraw his support, and allow al-Qa'ida to return, if his fighters are not incorporated into the Iraqi army and police.
Quote:
"If there is no change in three months there will be war again."
Bush needs to wake up to the fact that the violence in Iraq has fallen, not because of the surge, but because the United States has handed power to the guerrillas who previously fought it.
Mission accomplished!
Abu Marouf is threatening to withdraw his support, and allow al-Qa'ida to return, if his fighters are not incorporated into the Iraqi army and police.
Quote:
"If there is no change in three months there will be war again."
Bush needs to wake up to the fact that the violence in Iraq has fallen, not because of the surge, but because the United States has handed power to the guerrillas who previously fought it.
Mission accomplished!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Flag Dispute II
Iraqi lawmakers have managed to temporarily resolve one of the least pressing problems facing their country, that of the nation's flag.
Yesterday they approved a new flag, thus appeasing the country's northern Kurds, who had refused to fly the national banner because of its connection to Saddam Hussein.
Unfortunately this is but a temporary solution, the flag will last for one year, until a more permanent design is selected. The temporary flag will no longer bear the three green stars representing the "unity, freedom, socialism" motto of Hussein's Baath Party. The former leader's handwritten "Allahu akbar" (God is great) will be replaced with an old-style Arabic font.
The question is, will there be united Iraq over which to fly a flag in ones year's time?
It is also likely that the change of flag will merely stir up trouble, drawing attention to Iraq's internal divisions, and not least wasting time on a matter of little practical importance whilst other more pressing matters need to be addressed with urgency.
Nero fiddling whilst Rome burns, is an analogy that readily springs to mind.
Yesterday they approved a new flag, thus appeasing the country's northern Kurds, who had refused to fly the national banner because of its connection to Saddam Hussein.
Unfortunately this is but a temporary solution, the flag will last for one year, until a more permanent design is selected. The temporary flag will no longer bear the three green stars representing the "unity, freedom, socialism" motto of Hussein's Baath Party. The former leader's handwritten "Allahu akbar" (God is great) will be replaced with an old-style Arabic font.
The question is, will there be united Iraq over which to fly a flag in ones year's time?
It is also likely that the change of flag will merely stir up trouble, drawing attention to Iraq's internal divisions, and not least wasting time on a matter of little practical importance whilst other more pressing matters need to be addressed with urgency.
Nero fiddling whilst Rome burns, is an analogy that readily springs to mind.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Flag Dispute
As if the Iraqi people do not have enough problems, it seems that there is now a dispute brewing over the country's flag.
Leaders of Iraq's Kurdish minority want the flag changed, and are threatening not to fly the Saddam Hussein-era banner during a pan-Arab meeting in the Kurdish-run north next month.
The parliament in Baghdad is trying to find a solution in time for the conference.
Haidar al-Abadi, a legislator with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa party, said:
"It's a potentially explosive issue and we need to tread carefully".
The Kurds maintain that the colours of the national flag are not representative of all Iraqis and are demanding that the color yellow, which dominates their own flag, to be added.
Mahmoud Othman, a prominent Kurdish lawmaker, said:
"It is not possible to raise the flag in its present form, even for the meeting of the Arab parliamentarians.
The Kurds have been persecuted and killed under that banner. It must be changed."
Iraq has far more important issues to address at this time, than that of the flag.
Leaders of Iraq's Kurdish minority want the flag changed, and are threatening not to fly the Saddam Hussein-era banner during a pan-Arab meeting in the Kurdish-run north next month.
The parliament in Baghdad is trying to find a solution in time for the conference.
Haidar al-Abadi, a legislator with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Dawa party, said:
"It's a potentially explosive issue and we need to tread carefully".
The Kurds maintain that the colours of the national flag are not representative of all Iraqis and are demanding that the color yellow, which dominates their own flag, to be added.
Mahmoud Othman, a prominent Kurdish lawmaker, said:
"It is not possible to raise the flag in its present form, even for the meeting of the Arab parliamentarians.
The Kurds have been persecuted and killed under that banner. It must be changed."
Iraq has far more important issues to address at this time, than that of the flag.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Past Crimes and Misdemeanours
The US House of Representatives has passed a defence bill that exempts Iraq from lawsuits dating back to the regime of Saddam Hussein.
Bush and Iraq had objected to an earlier version, that included Iraq in a provision enhancing the ability of US citizens to sue state sponsors of terrorism for damages in US courts.
The new bill waives that provision for Iraq.
The Bush administration had received complaints from Baghdad that said that the original bill would have reopened lawsuits filed against Iraq under Saddam.
The new Iraqi government complained that such lawsuits could tie up $25BN.
Quite how a terrorist supporting country could be prosecuted, and brought to book in a US court is unclear to me.
Bush and Iraq had objected to an earlier version, that included Iraq in a provision enhancing the ability of US citizens to sue state sponsors of terrorism for damages in US courts.
The new bill waives that provision for Iraq.
The Bush administration had received complaints from Baghdad that said that the original bill would have reopened lawsuits filed against Iraq under Saddam.
The new Iraqi government complained that such lawsuits could tie up $25BN.
Quite how a terrorist supporting country could be prosecuted, and brought to book in a US court is unclear to me.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
UN Contradicts US
Despite US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice claiming that the new law to allow Baathists back in from the political cold was sign of reconciliation, the UN countered her claim.
Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations' Baghdad envoy, said that Iraq lacks any true spirit of reconciliation despite parliament's decision to let former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party return to government jobs.
He said that there was still no trust between the Shi'ite-dominated cabinet and Sunni muslims, and warned that Iraq was running out of time.
"We do not feel a real spirit of reconciliation developing even if the government has accepted the law on reintegration of former Baathists.
The little intercommunity game continues but Iraq has no more time."
Time is running out for Iraq and for Bush.
Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations' Baghdad envoy, said that Iraq lacks any true spirit of reconciliation despite parliament's decision to let former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party return to government jobs.
He said that there was still no trust between the Shi'ite-dominated cabinet and Sunni muslims, and warned that Iraq was running out of time.
"We do not feel a real spirit of reconciliation developing even if the government has accepted the law on reintegration of former Baathists.
The little intercommunity game continues but Iraq has no more time."
Time is running out for Iraq and for Bush.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
No Plan No Peace
BBC 4 re ran the BBC 1 documentary "No Plan No Peace" last night, which described the criminal lack of planning that went into the post invasion occupation of Iraq by the US and UK.
In short, there was no plan!
In short, there was no plan!
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