IRAQ A SOVEREIGN STATE

Sky News ^ | June 28, 2004 | Sky News

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

IRAQ A SOVEREIGN STATE

The handover of power in Iraq to an interim sovereign government has been completed after ministers made a surprise announcement that the transfer was being brought forward to today.

The transer was supposed to take place on June 30.

But Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said the deteriorating security situation in the country was one of the reasons why the date had been brought forward.

"We will challenge these elements in Iraq, the anti-democratic elements, by even bringing the handover of sovereignty before June 30 as a sign we are ready for it," he said.He added: "We have made some very good progress in terms of the new security council (in Iraq) and the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people to take away the level of occupation we have suffered a great deal from.

"There are many Iraqis who are standing up to the challenge.

Iraqi leaders hope the handover will stem attacks

We are here to seek more help and assistance, training and equipment."

Insurgents have mounted a series of bloody attacks this month aimed at disrupting the handover, and several foreign hostages have also been seized over the past week.

The interim government will be led by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi will have "full sovereignty", according to a UN Security Council resolution on the handover earlier this month.

But there are important constraints on its powers.

It is barred from making long-term policy decisions and will not have control over more than 160,000 foreign troops who will remain in Iraq.

The government has the right to ask them to leave - but has made clear it has no intention of doing so.

[KangarooJacqui]

YES!!!!!!!

[byteback]

Mission Accomplished!

[Names Ash Housewares]

Fox is reporting Saddam will be brought before Iraqi judge within days.

[Diddle E. Squat]

And FNC reporting that Saddam will be taken before an Iraqi judge this week. Big time media event.

Whose new book? What new movie? Who served in Vietnam? All drowned out this week.

[Wiggins]

Good move. This throws off the terrorists timing for what ever plans of attack they may have had in place. I hope it works.

[ambrose]

And this is "news" because it is a surprise. May have been a yawn if it went forward on the scheduled date...

[Keith in Iowa]

Dan, Peter, & Tom are going to wake up to this news and soil themselves. It's really going to screw up their plans for Wednesday.

[ambrose]

Saddam is the one that worries me the most... we DON'T need to see a "Saddam escapes" story...

[The KG9 Kid]

Just another example of why some Freepers stay up late -- So often, that's when history is made.

[KangarooJacqui]

Fox is reporting Saddam will be brought before Iraqi judge within days.

At the risk of repeating myself - ahhh, what the heck...

*raises fist in air*

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Syncro]

Well, yea they take the weakend off...typo intended.

[Defender2]

Outstanding!!!!:-)

[Syncro]

We are still have him surrounded, no worries.

[ScaniaBoy]

Sometimes it is all right to gloat! ;D

ScaniaBoy

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

John Kerry will be real sad when he is awakened with this news.

That Fata$$ lying Son-of-a-biatch, Michael Moore has probably already called Kerry to b!tch about the expected huge dropoff in ticket sales to F-911 this week (even before Spiderman-2 opens).

[RWR8189]

When reached for comment, Tom Daschle was said to be "deeply saddened"

[Jim Robinson]

Well, it goes without saying that this is all Bush's fault.

[KangarooJacqui]

Just another example of why some Freepers stay up late -- So often, that's when history is made.

Of course, "late" depends on where you are. The news of the WTC skyjackings broke late at night where I live... by the time the towers came down, it was Sept 12th, and by the time I went to bed (at about 5.30am local time) the airforce base near my house was on full alert (this I could tell by the simple fact that they usually don't conduct F-111 engine testing at 5 in the morning.)

[jnarcus]

May the Iraqi people find the strength to take this offer of freedom into their own hands and make it a reality for themselves. It is theirs to nurture...may they grow it well

[Right_in_Virginia]

Saddam is the one that worries me the most... we DON'T need to see a "Saddam escapes" story...

Saddam goes before the courts within a week and the Iraqi government is already talking about seeking the death penalty.

[grobdriver]

I find myself wondering if the news of the "hostage" Marine had anything to do with this?
"It's all over, fellas - let him go" kind of thing...

[jnarcus]

MAde me smile, Jim...good one...

[RWR8189]

From what I understand we are still going to be responsible for the security of Saddam, and the Iraqis have the ability to indict and try him.

[KangarooJacqui]

Saddam goes before the courts within a week and the Iraqi government is already talking about seeking the death penalty.

Oh, it just gets better and better... YESSSS!!!!!

[The KG9 Kid]

"... Of course, "late" depends on where you are."

I am in the FRST time zone: FreeRepublic Standard Time (GMT -08:00)

[Jet Jaguar]

You got that right!

[RWR8189]

Just another example of why some Freepers stay up late -- So often, that's when history is made.

That's right, I was up nearly until 5am when we caught Saddam in December, and now this.

All the important things in Iraq happen late at night over here

[KangarooJacqui]

Sometimes it is all right to gloat! ;D

D*mn straight... I've got a smile on my face so wide right now my face is gonna hurt in the morning. But oh, what a night! (Even though the sun is just going down here where I am...)

[Squantos]

HUA ! To bad they would'nt let us finish this in 91 while I was there......

Glad it's formally a done deal now !...Stay safe !

[Spirited]

Interesting to me that Greg Paltrow (Fox) said he was at the "small" ceremony while a reporter at MSNBC said that none of the press pool was there.

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

Will the Arab networks televise Saddam's Trial to their Middle East audience?

Would the Arab networks telecast the beheading of Saddam to the same Islamic audience?

[NRA2BFree]

This is great news! They pulled it off without a hitch.

God Bless all the soldiers who gave their lives so this day could happen. May their great sacrifice be forever more remembered by the Iraqi people.

[Ichneumon]

Whose new book? What new movie? Who served in Vietnam? All drowned out this week.

LOL! Excellent point, I hadn't thought of that.

[KangarooJacqui]

FreeRepublic Standard Time (GMT -08:00)

The time I have my FR clock set to, as it only allows me American options, that was the default option anyway, and it's the timezone those I am closest to in the US live in (and which my husband died in.)

In real life, I'm GMT +10:00... which makes me eighteen hours ahead.

[Future Useless Eater]

>>Dan, Peter, & Tom are going to wake up to this news and soil themselves. It's really going to screw up their plans for Wednesday.

Outstanding point. The bad guys on both sides of the globe have been thrown for a loop!

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

I was so looking forward to flipping channels this morning to watch all the American Networks gloat about Michael Moore and his film...NOT

[KangarooJacqui]

Interesting to me that Greg Paltrow (Fox) said he was at the "small" ceremony while a reporter at MSNBC said that none of the press pool was there.

Sour grapes at getting scooped by Murdoch's boys. YESSSS!!!

[HassanBenSobar]

tick, tick, tick, tick....countdown to ZOT initiated...

[ScaniaBoy]

It's morning here. Actually I'm getting late for work, but I'm waiting for the Radio news. They spent all of yesterday predicting doom and gloom for the handover the 30th - and now it has already happened!!

Can't wait to her'em explain away this.

HURRAY!!!

[Right_in_Virginia]

Will the Arab networks televise Saddam's Trial to their Middle East audience?

Somehow...they'll know ;-)

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

Sky News and Fox Newschannel were the 1st to report of the early handover, something about informing your friends first before notifying your enemies (CBS/NBC/ABC/MSNBC etc) of major news stories.

[nw_arizona_granny]

"This is Bush's fault"

True

And it is your fault that we are to set here and smile till
it hurts.

Thank you for giving us a wonderful meeting place, to celebrate the events of history with fantastic FReepers.

I thank you, Mr. Robinson

Still smiling,

Ruth

[Future Useless Eater]

>>Paltrow

Greg Palkot (Fox News) was there

[arkady_renko]

Happy Birthday to them! While the kids (Michael Moore and gang) kick and scream, the adults move civilization forward.

A_R

[prisoner6]

Heck I'm feeling a bit damp over this! Course that happens at my age...sigh.

Great news from Iraq! Can't wait to hand it off to the the morning (leftist, Bush hating, the-war-was a mistake) news anchor.

prisoner6

[Future Useless Eater]

>>Sky News and Fox Newschannel were the 1st to report of the early handover, something about informing your friends first before notifying your enemies (CBS/NBC/ABC/MSNBC etc) of major news stories.

True, but there was also some SECRECY involved, so the RATS could not be trusted.

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

I wonder how many newspapers across the coutry will stop their presses and add this story to their front page of this mornings newspapers?

[prisoner6]

It's also why I really like workng the overnight radio news shift. Nothing ticks me off more than some newbie newser who wants to work only 9=5 M-F.

NEWS NEVER SLEEPS!

prisoner6