Free Republic

If the Oklahoma City bombers refused to participate in a U.S. election, would the final results be considered “illegitimate?” What if the Nation of Islam, the Black Panthers, the Communist Party USA, or the Southern Indiana Regional Militia refused to vote in American elections? Would it matter and, really, who gives a damn? The Left-Wing, e.g. the New York Times, has been trying to hold the Iraqi elections to this type of ridiculous standard regarding Sunni participation. Granted: Sunnis make up 32-37% of Iraq’s population. While their representation is important, the majority of terrorist attacks aimed at destabilizing Iraq have...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell made an unannounced trip to Baghdad early Friday for talks with top Iraqi officials, including the country's new president, Ghazi al-Yawer. U.S. Embassy spokesman Bob Callahan said Powell was met at Baghdad International Airport by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, John D. Negroponte. Powell is the highest ranking American official to visit since Iraq's interim government took power on June 28. Callahan told The Associated Press that Powell is expected to hold talks Friday with al-Yawer and Iraq's deputy prime minister, Barham Saleh.

President defends capital punishment, says amnesty only for “outlaws” still at large Baghdad, Iraq Press, July 17, 2004 – Iraq is seriously considering reviving “capital punishment” as part of a package of stringent measures to fight off rising crime and a surge in violence, according to President Ghazi Yawer. “Any kind of terrorism must be uprooted. Anyone who commits a crime (such as) detonating car bombs that kill innocents, rapes and kidnaps children to trade them off ..These are the ones who must be executed,” Yawer declared. Yawer’s remarks, in an interview on Saturday, are a signal that the interim...

By JAMIE TARABAYASSOCIATED PRESS BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - 0712iraq-alyawer Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawer threatened Monday to use a "very sharp sword" to fight insurgents threatening the security of the country, a day after three U.S. soldiers died in attacks north of Baghdad. Also Monday, France and Iraq restored diplomatic relations that were severed before the Gulf War 13 years ago. Al-Yawer spoke two weeks after the United States handed sovereignty over to an interim Iraqi government. The handover, however, has not quelled the violence that has wracked the country since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime nearly 15...

New Iraqi President Calls Saddam 'Weapon of Mass Destruction' By Kathleen T. RhemAmerican Forces Press Service BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 20, 2004 – The new Iraqi president said he feels there must have been elements of weapons of mass destruction inside Iraq. "Saddam (Hussein) used chemical weapons, he used (them) against Iraqis inside Iraq," said Ghazi al-Yawer. Yawer agreed to speak briefly June 19 with American reporters in Baghdad accompanying Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. When asked to comment on the American political debate surrounding WMDs not being found in Iraq, Yawer said that wasn't the real issue. "After all,...

IT WAS almost unprecedented in the short history of Iraq’s fledgeling free press. Instead of the usual death and mayhem, or vitriolic editorials attacking the occupation, there was a sudden surge of optimism yesterday. “It’s a new dawn for Iraq,” proclaimed Al-Sabah al-Jadid, a liberal daily, referring to Tuesday’s appointment of a new interim Iraqi President and government. “Welcome to the new Iraqi leadership,” declared Az-Zawa, the newspaper of the journalists’ union. “The Iraqi people are happy with the choice of Sheikh Ghazi al-Yawer,” said the Mutamar newspaper, referring to the new President. But the violence did not suddenly abate....

<p>BAGHDAD -- Sunni Muslim Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer was named to be Iraq's interim president yesterday, a move welcomed by many Iraqis who see him as a strong tribal chief capable of leading the nation through elections early next year.</p>

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Former Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi was appointed as Iraq's new president Tuesday but turned down the post, an aide said. Governing Council President Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer was then named to the top post, a council member said. Nasser Kamel al-Chaderchi said al-Yawer accepted the post in a move to break the deadlock over selection of a new government to take power June 30, council member Nasser Kamel al-Chaderchi said. The Americans had favored Pachachi, 81, while most of the Governing Council backed al-Yawer. An aide to Pachachi, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the elderly figure...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi Governing Council members accused American officials Monday of pressuring them to accept Washington's choice for Iraq's new president, prompting a delay in the announcement of a new government to take power from the U.S.-led coalition June 30. U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi had hoped to complete the selection of the 26-member Cabinet by Monday. However, a Governing Council session that was to have chosen a president was postponed until at least Tuesday, with sharp differences remaining between the council and the coalition over the largely ceremonial head of state job. "I hope it will be taken...