WASHINGTON, 25 February 2003 — Pushing aside Iraqi opposition leaders’ requests to create a provisional government in a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, the Bush administration announced late last week that the US plans to take complete control in administering a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq.
As a concession, however, the US will create and appoint a “consultative council” of Iraqis, but the council will not be given any governing responsibilities.
The Bush administration has yet to name the American who will oversee Iraq’s reconstruction government, but has confirmed that Gen. Tommy Franks, head of the US Central Command and in charge of commanding the US forces in the Gulf, will maintain military control as long as US troops are there.
No final price tag, or time limit has been given to the plan. Officials say much depends on how long the potential conflict with Iraq will take, how much destruction will occur, and “how deep” corruption is within the current Iraqi government.
Some experts estimate that reconstruction of the country, and the creation of a “representative” Iraqi government will take, at least, five years.
Officials told the Washington Post that the decision to install US military and civilian administrations for an indeterminate time comes from three lessons they’ve learned in Afghanistan: “Where power has been diffused among US military forces still waging war against the remnants of the Taleban and Al-Qaeda; a multinational security force of several thousand troops in which the US does not participate; and the interim government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.”
In addition, Arab News has learned that, after the Iraq war, observers are predicting the US involvement in the Middle East will not stop there. They foresee a struggle between the president’s foreign affairs aides and his political advisors over the Israel-Palestinian peace talks.
The State Department and the Defense Department allegedly will push for an Israeli-Palestinian initiative, while Bush’s political advisers may try to hold up the effort, as they consider presidential involvement between the Israelis and Palestinians risky as it may alienate American Jews.
