US administration reaches out to communists, low-paid Iraqis

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030716/pl_afp/iraq_us_bremer&cid=1521&ncid=1480

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Promoting communists, doubling the salaries of the low-paid and banning the death penalty might not sound like the work of a US Republican administration, but then welcome to topsy-turvy post-war Iraq.

Among the more surprising choices made by the top US overseer in Iraq, Paul Bremer, known for his neo-liberal leanings, was to allow communist Hamid Majid Mussa to sit on Iraq's new Governing Council.

"He has two main concerns: preventing extremists taking the key positions among the Shiites and keeping the economy going," explained one of the international advisors involved in the selection process.

"He hesitated at first but became convinced that the communists could prove a counterweight to the imams," he added, asking not to be named.

more

[I AM SPARTACUS]

1. oh yeah, this is a well-thought-out plan...

...and it's sooooo certain that it won't come back to haunt the misunderstimadministration...

[PATRICK]

2. Promoting communists

Ooops. It is always supposed to be "former communists". Doesn't the Right care anymore? Better dead than red, remember?

[David__77]

3. communists oppose occupation...

I'm afraid the ICP (Communist Party) is a little too interested in power--the SCIRI too. They'll soon find that they're window dressing. I'm sure they'll begin to make some anti-occupation noises and maybe Bremer will expel these "troublemakers."