| Monday, June 28, 2004 |
09:47 - Hey! Stick to the script!
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/28/international/28CND-IRAQ.html
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Well, this should screw up a few people's plans.
BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 28 — In a surprise, secret ceremony that was hastily convened to decrease the chances of more violence, United States officials today handed over sovereignty to Iraqi leaders, formally ending the American occupation two days earlier than scheduled.
In a tightly guarded room behind high walls, L. Paul Bremer III, the top United States administrator, presented a formal letter recognizing Iraq's sovereignty to Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
Just 30 or so people were present for what Dr. Allawi described as the "historic" handover.
A few hours later, Mr. Bremer flew off on a military plane, leaving behind a country stunned by the sudden transfer of authority. Shortly afterward, Dr. Allawi was formally sworn in as Prime Minister.
"This is a historic day," said the Iraqi interim president, Ghazi Ajil al-Yawar . "We want a free, democratic Iraq that will be a source of peace and stability for the region and the whole world. We would like to express our thanks to our friends in the Coalition for the efforts and dedication they have spent."
Early by two days: enough to screw up attacks planned for the 30th, but not early enough to look like "cutting and running". And if the terrorists are anywhere near as taken by surprise by this as Allawi sounds, they're in for a rough bit of rethinking of strategy.
Especially if Allawi declares martial law, as he suggests he might. In which case he'll have need of our troops still helping out. Yet something tells me that if it's him in charge, and Iraqis handling the bulk of the peacekeeping, the terrorists will have a helluva time blaming us. Even if the crackdowns become way more brutal than we've been yet. Which they probably would.
I dunno... there's a lot of variables yet. People will no doubt criticize us for not making a complete military withdrawal immediately following today, or for planning all along to have "scripted" a situation whereby Allawi would invite our troops to stay past the deadline. And an Iraqi PM who declares martial law? Every time you see someone in the next forty-eight hours who says he sees Allawi becoming "another Saddam", take a drink.
But, well, you know, whatever. This is a huge step in the right direction, and anyone who criticizes it doesn't know how to do anything but criticize.
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Brian Tiemann
