This is a set back. The NYT is reporting that Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has let it be known through his assistants that he does not support the current De-Baathification plan proposed by Prime Minister Maliki. That plan, designed to bring Sunni's back into the government fold and stem their support for the insurgency, is a critical component of establishing stability and quelling the violence in Iraq. According to reports, Sistani's voice of displeasure over the law means certain defeat for the measure when it is voted in Parliament. Further, the NYT is reporting that Sistani's veto came after a meeting with an opponent of the bill, Ahmed Chalabi, who apparently used this technique as an end around Maliki and he Parliament. This is not good news. Read the article here.
Showing posts with label Baath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baath. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Grand Ayatollah Sistani Nixes Maliki's Proposed De-Baathification Law
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Surge News - Maliki Government Reaching Out To Sunnis
In a major political development, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the Shia leader of Iraq, and the Kurdish president of Iraq, Jalal Talibani, will introduce legislation today aimed at overcoming a major sticking point - how to treat and reintegrate former Baathists.
The lack of movement [on legislation] had . . . hampered efforts at reconciliation between the Sunnis and Shiites, he said, since the Sunnis have had little faith that the Shiite government would do anything concrete to help them.
Changing the de-Baathification laws was one of the political goals for the Iraqi government set by the Bush administration six months ago.
Under the proposal by the prime minister and the president, which comes on the heels of meetings held between Mr. Maliki and Sunni insurgent leaders and appears to be an effort to back up his outreach with action, all Baathists would be able to collect their pensions.
In addition, thousands more former Baathists would be allowed to hold government jobs than under the current law. Former Baathists who return to government work would have to sign a pledge that they would refrain from making political statements about the current government.
The law would also set a three-month time limit for Iraqi citizens who have complaints against former Baathists to bring a claim. Then the courts would have six months to rule. Any claims brought subsequently would be thrown out.
The goal of the new law is to take a step toward reconciling Sunnis and Shiites, said Dr. Sadiq al-Raqadi, a political adviser to Mr. Maliki.
. . . Recently, American diplomats and military officials along with Iraqi government officials, including Mr. Maliki, have reached out to Sunni militants in an effort to woo those elements of the insurgency whom Mr. Khalilzad described as “reconcilable insurgents” and isolate the most violent elements.
“There is a real struggle going on in the Sunni Arab part of Iraq between those of Al Qaeda and the other more patriotic groups who want a successful Iraq, an Iraq in which everyone’s rights is respected,” said Mr. Khalilzad. Most of these “patriotic groups” were linked to Mr. Hussein’s former government rather than to the Sunni religious militants with ties to Al Qaeda.
Mr. Khalilzad underscored that there would be no discussions with individuals linked to Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, the insurgent group that claims ties to the Qaeda organization, which has been associated with some of the most destructive attacks in Iraq.
Mr. Khalilzad noted that in the six weeks since the American-backed security plan began, attacks had dropped 25 percent. . . .
And then, in a final bit good news, we learn "Two suicide truck bombs exploded near Ramadi, but initial reports indicated they had killed only the drivers." It is so rare for an NYT peice to end on a happy note, I thought that I should point it out.
Read the whole story here. This is all good news.
Friday, February 16, 2007
AMERICA'S TWO FRONT WAR. In Iraq, we face al-Qaeda, Iran, Syria, Wahabbi radicals, and former Baathists, all of whom are actively engaged in seeking our defeat. At home, we face the left wing of the Democratic Party who now intend to move with all speed to insure that the war is both terminated and seen as a disaster -- consequences be damned. The first step in this process occurred today when the House voted 246 (including 17 republicans) to 182 to condemn the surge in Iraq. With the ink barely dry on the memorialization of the vote at the government printing house, Speaker Pelosi and company let it be known that their next target is funding for the war:
"Democrats said their next move would be to challenge Bush's request for $93 billion in new funds for the Pentagon. "The stakes in Iraq are too high to recycle proposals that have little prospect for success," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi . . . ."
Read the whole article.
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