Talk of ousting PM threatens Iraq democracy

The Australian ^ | 10/16/06 | Marie Colvin

[AKSurprise]

"IRAQ'S fragile democracy, weakened by mounting chaos and a rapidly rising death toll, is being challenged by calls for the formation of a hardline "government of national salvation".

The proposal, which is being widely discussed in political and intelligence circles in Baghdad, is to replace the Shia-led Government of Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister, with a regime that is capable of imposing order and confronting the sectarian militias leading the country to the brink of civil war.

Saleh al-Mutlak, a prominent Sunni politician, travelled to Arab capitals last week seeking support for the replacement of the present Government with a group of five strongmen who would impose martial law and either dissolve parliament or halt its participation in day-to-day government."

"The main focus of a new regime, Dr Mutlak said, would be to bring security back to Iraq by "cleaning out" the ministries of Defence and the Interior, widely seen as having been infiltrated by sectarian militias. He said he had the support of four other parties, including al-Fadila, a Shia party that is based in Basra."

[AKSurprise]

Not sure what I think about this possibility. I readily concede the government ministries need to be cleansed of the sectarians. It would be necessary to do this in such a way as not to endanger the democracy, or the parliament of Iraq. Afterall doing this in the wrong way would only result in another repressive regime which leads to more resentment of the west and democracy, and that in turn would lead to greater terrorism. Perhaps if the military could be the arbiter of democracy similar to the place of the military in Turkey, ensuring the Islamists do not take over. The Bush administration is absolutely right that a democracy in the heart of the mideast will begin to change that region.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

If it happens it will be a major defeat for us in Iraq. The Sunnis were favored by Saddam and made up most of the Baath Party.

[advertising guy]

and why it will succeed ultimately. Providence has a hand til Armaggedon fullfills whatever the detailed truths of Armaggedon actually behold.

[cookcounty]

Perhaps al-Maliki feeling the heat from this is what led to him ordering the arrest of 3,000 Shia militiamen and the sacking of a fellow Shi'ite as Ministerof Interior (which has been a connivving rathole).

If he's going to survive as PM, he'll have to crack a lot of heads, the first of which should be Moqtada al-Sadr's, the Iranian Suck-Up..

[jan in Colorado]

FYI Ping!

[Fred Nerks]

Saleh al-Mutlak, a prominent Sunni politician, travelled to Arab capitals last week seeking support for the replacement of the present Government...

----


The last ghasp of the sunni before Federalism?

[cookcounty]

"Afterall doing this in the wrong way would only result in another repressive regime which leads to more resentment of the west and democracy, and that in turn would lead to greater terrorism.

Don't get out too far on that business of us causing resentment and then leading to further terrorism. Islamist terrorism was thriving 1,000 years before America began, we didn't cause it. If they are resentful, it is because we're successful. So are we going to be unsuccessful in hopes that failure will calm the Jihadis down?

Just do the right thing. Support the troops, demand victory.

[Marine_Uncle]

For what it is worth, if anything, I would submit a dialog I presented in:
Here
Where I attempted to address a few things that IMHO are very important to this whole issue in Iraq.
It is late and I am ready to hit the sack. But am open to any dialog one may want to offer and or rebutals to what I had to say.

[Fred Nerks]

Hi Jan! Looks like the sunni are rather pee'd off. Won't do them much good running to the Saudi's for help, LOL!

[montag813]

Allawi should be PM and Al Sadr should be dead.

[Dr. Frank fan]

The proposal, which is being widely discussed in political and intelligence circles in Baghdad, is to replace the Shia-led Government of Nouri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister, with a regime that is capable of imposing order and confronting the sectarian militias leading the country to the brink of civil war. .... replacement of the present Government with a group of five strongmen who would impose martial law and either dissolve parliament or halt its participation in day-to-day government."

I suppose one understands the temptation to resort to such a measure but it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. Based on what, exactly, do we buy this notion that this "group of five strongmen" (which are whom, exactly?) would necessarily be "capable of imposing order" and "confronting the sectarian militias"? Why am I supposed to believe that in the first place? Just off the top of my head I come up with these two possible reasons for believing it:

1.) They are vicious, bloodthirsty, coldblooded bastards who command their own private networks of vicious, bloodthirsty, coldblooded assassins. Thus, there's no real doubt they'd win the streets back, over a pile of bodies.

2.) They are the ones stirring up all the trouble in the first place, and thus are capable of "calling off the dogs" so to speak if they are given the reins of power. That's a real possibility.

Option 1.) doesn't exactly scream out for the conclusion "therefore let's put them in charge of the country!" to me. Call me crazy.

Option 2.) would mean they're essentially running a giant protection racket. Therefore... let's put them in charge of the country?

Which is it? Is there an option 3.)? Oh yes, it is this:

3.) The "group of five strongmen" wouldn't really be any more intrinsically capable of keeping the peace than the present government. There would still be sectarian violence, corruption, etc. The only difference would be that we will have abandoned Iraqi democracy and empowered a bunch of "strongmen"... for nothing.

Options 1., 2., or 3. Take your pick. None of them sound like winners to me.

[jmc1969]

I agree with you there.

If Maliki can't deal with the militias that are putting 100 dead bodies on the streets of Baghdad almost every day then someone must be brought in who can.

[jan in Colorado]

Hey Fred! How serious do you take this article?

[Fred Nerks]

From the article:

"Saleh al-Mutlak, a prominent Sunni politician, travelled to Arab capitals last week seeking support for the replacement of the present Government with a group of five strongmen who would impose martial law and either dissolve parliament or halt its participation in day-to-day government."

Depends where he went, who he saw, and what the response was...and did he come back with an army?

No, seriously, I have no idea. But sounds like a last sunni ghasp to me. To save their arab 'honor' no doubt.

[Fred Nerks]

Did you see this?

'The Terror War is an Honor War'

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1719640/posts

[jan in Colorado]

I just skimmed the Honor War thread. I will read it tomorrow when I'm not quite so tired.

What I did read reminded me of a thread I read the other day about lack of respect for women, brought on by feminism, and the harm it has brought to our society. Much like the like of honor... Here

[TexKat]