Iraq Council Picks 9 Leaders Instead of 1

[Wonder]

snip

BAGHDAD — In a sign of the deep divisions in Iraq's new temporary governing council, its members were unable Tuesday to choose a single leader to help run the country, opting instead for a nine-person presidency.


The decision raised new questions about the effectiveness of the council, whose credibility was already in question for many Iraqis because its members were appointed by U.S. officials rather than popularly elected.

The council, which met for the first time July 13, spent the last two days arguing about how it would operate and who would lead it. After seven hours of talks Tuesday, the nine-member presidency was announced in a brief statement that contained few other details.

snip

Many Iraqis are watching the council closely in the belief that its level of efficiency and its degree of independence from U.S. officials will influence how quickly Iraq can progress to independent governance. The council has the power to appoint interim ministers, help draft the budget and set policies, but final jurisdiction rests with the U.S.-led occupation authority.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-council30jul30,1,5434086.story


Nothing like a good Occupation here is Iraq's Presidential Panel


From Associated Press

The nine members who were named to the presidential panel of Iraq's governing council:

• Ahmad Chalabi: Shiite Muslim; leader of the Iraqi National Congress.

• Abdelaziz Hakim: Shiite; leader of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

• Jalal Talabani: Sunni Muslim; leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

• Massoud Barzani: Sunni; leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party.

• Ibrahim Jafari: Shiite; spokesman for the Islamic Dawa Party.

• Iyad Allawi: Shiite; secretary-general of the Iraqi National Accord.

• Mohsen Abdel Hamid: Sunni; secretary-general of the Iraqi Islamic Party.

• Seyyid Mohammed Bahr Uloom: Shiite; cleric.

• Adnan Pachachi: Sunni; foreign minister in the government ousted in the 1968 Baath Party coup.

[Rick Myers]

1. Welcome to the 12th century, Dubya!!!

:wtf:

[Aidoneus]

2. interesting

probably seen as preventing widespread resistance to the criminal occupation by snaring in any group that would be a part of it. Clever idea, but it probably won't hold if these people think they're actually going to be anything other than a thin facade.