US proposed "de-Ba'athification laws" guarantees comeback jobs for Saddam's state-run militia

[sabra]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ID24Ak03.html

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The de-Ba'athification laws were recently renamed the "Accountability and Reconciliation Project" and presented to the chairman of the de-Ba'athification committee, Ahmad Chalabi, by the United States. One of the proposals, which Maliki will eventually have to sign off on to stay in power, guarantees comeback jobs to the Fedayeen, a state-run militia that operated under Saddam's direct orders. Former exile Chalabi was once the US neo-cons' darling and a main proponent of the invasion of Iraq.

All members of Saddam's security services and the once feared Republican Guard, too, will be entitled to their equivalent positions. Former junior Ba'athists will be reinstated and senior Ba'athists will be given immunity against any possible charges of war crimes under Saddam.

More shocking, and much to the pleasure of Sunnis, the law will allow Ba'athists to reach any position of government, including prime minister, Speaker of Parliament or president, if voted for by the people.

Chalabi, who is outraged by the US proposals, hurriedly appeared in numerous press interviews, challenging the amendments to de-Ba'athification. He called out to the Iranians, who are equally opposed, trying to win their sympathy by saying that the United States is "provoking" them in Iraq. He went even further with his messages to the mullahs, saying that US accusations against Tehran are "unjust and unrealistic".