General Articles on the Occupation and Rule in Iraq
2004
What
Can the US Do in Iraq? (December 22, 2004)
In a study of US options in Iraq, the International Crisis Group
finds that the US needs to disengage from Iraq politically as well
as militarily in order to build a sovereign, unified and independent
state. In addition to this, the new Iraqi state must distance itself
from US policies if it wants to withstand the opposition of its own
citizens. Instead of sticking to a timetable that was drawn up at
the start of the occupation, Washington ought to take the changed
circumstances in account and devise a strategy that goes beyond simply
applauding victories such as the "transfer of sovereignty."
Iraq's
National Guard No People's Army (December 16, 2004)
Although the Bush Administration perceives the Iraqi National Guard
as part of its exit strategy, Iraqis view the US-trained Guard as
an extension of the occupation. The 40,000-strong force, "half-way
between a police and an army," strongly resembles the US occupying
forces, rendering it another target for the resistance. (Reuters)
A New Course
in Iraq (December 10, 2004)
This article proposes five essential steps the US needs to take if
it wants to restore security in Iraq and withdraw its forces. In order
to grant the new Iraqi government legitimacy and ensure ordinary Iraqis'
safety, the US must take serious measures to reduce the cost of war
to the people it has supposedly liberated. (Foreign Policy in Focus)
US Retreats
from Theory of Democratic Transformation in the Middle East (December
8, 2004)
This article argues that neoconservatives are abandoning their theory
of democratic transformation in the Middle East as they struggle to
stabilize Iraq. Convinced of the need to "help transform a troubled
part of the world," the Bush administration intended to make Iraq
a neoliberal market democracy that would set an example for the region.
However, as the continued occupation of Iraq shows, the intervention
has done nothing to foster democracy in the Middle East. (Power
and Interest News Report)
American Options
in Iraq (November 8, 2004)
Former State Department's policy expert William R. Polk outlines three
possible options for the US in Iraq. He devises several strategies
that deal with the situation and concludes that the best alternative
is for President George Bush to show the courage of General Charles
de Gaulle in Algeria- admit that the insurgency has "won" and call
for a "peace of the braves." (Informed Comment)
Iraq's New Patent
Law: A Declaration of War Against Farmers (November 2004)
This article exposes Washington's attempts to impose neoliberal reforms
on Iraq's economy. Under a new law, introduced by former Coalition
Provisional Authority Chief Paul Bremer, large transnational corporations
will import the seeds Iraqi farmers plant and farmers will not be
allowed to save and replant seeds. The US argues the law is necessary
to ensure good quality seeds in Iraq and facilitate its accession
to the WTO, but critics fear that by imposing these regulations, "Iraq
will remain under occupation indefinitely." (Foreign Policy in
Focus)
Iraq in the
DNA of Imperialism (October 28, 2004)
US claims of bringing democracy to Iraq will never go hand in hand
with US desire to take over the region and control vast energy resources
in the Middle East. Four decades of British rule in Iraq illustrate
that "no empire has ever been able to dominate alien territories by
granting their populations democracy." Colonizers cannot afford democracy
in the countries they occupy.
(Iraq News Net)
Negligent
US Forces to Blame for Massacre of Recruits, Says Allawi (October
27, 2004)
In a sign of discord between the US and Iraqi government, Iraq's Prime
Minister Ayad Allawi responded to the recent massacre of 49 Iraqi
soldiers by accusing US soldiers of negligence. The statement came
after Allawi said the security situation has worsened in Iraq, contrary
to US claims, and after Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari called
the US attacks on Fallujah "mismanaged." (Independent)
From Bad to
Worse In Iraq (October 27, 2004)
The New York Times notes that the US administration has managed
to arm dangerous terrorists and create a branch of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Ironically, although the occupiers legitimized the war on Iraq on
the basis of inexistent weapons of mass destruction, they lost existing
weapons which UN inspectors had monitored for years.
The US Invasion
of Iraq: The Military Side of Globalization? (October 26, 2004)
This article argues that the US did not invade Iraq solely for oil
interests. Rather, Washington's game plan consisted of spreading neoliberal
economic policies and imposing radical changes on the previously state-controlled
economy. The reforms, which closely resemble the IMF's structural
adjustment programs, impose a "free-market utopia" and will benefit
US-based corporations. (Foreign Policy in Focus)
Q&A: Private Military Contractors and the Law (October 21, 2004)
Though private military contractors (PMCs) play an increasing role in military operations, their legal status remains unclear. This question and answer page from Human Rights Watch offers a breakdown of the legal implications for PMCs operating in Iraq. Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, PMCs are generally protected as civilians. This designation is complicated, however, when contractors participate directly in military operations.
US Effort
Aims to Improve Opinions About Iraq Conflict (September 30, 2004)
In an attempt to do away with negative perceptions of the Iraq war,
the Pentagon is restricting distribution of reports showing increasing
violence in Iraq and is sending Iraqi Americans to US military bases
to provide "a first-hand account" of "good news" about events in Iraq.
The Pentagon says it is launching this unusual public-relations initiative
because Iraqi Americans "feel strongly that the benefits of the coalition
efforts have not been fully reported." (Washington Post)
The New
US Strategy After the Battle of Najaf (September 28, 2004)
In the wake of the Najaf standoff, the US has devised a new strategy
of negotiating with clerics, offering extensive reconstruction aid
in exchange for ending the insurgency. With help of the new plan,
the US hopes to crush the insurgency in cities where guerillas dominate
and legitimize the upcoming elections by ensuring votes from these
areas. (Iraq News Net)
Bush, in Shift,
Taps Into Emergency Iraq Funds (September 21, 2004)
After US President George Bush insisted he had "ample resources" to
fund the war in Iraq, the Pentagon is now nevertheless tapping its
25 billion emergency fund to prepare for a major troop rotation and
intense fighting this fall. The news comes after Bush announced plans
to divert $ 3.5 billion from Iraqi water, power and other reconstruction
projects to improve security. (Reuters)
Ignited Iraq
(September 15, 2004)
Author and filmmaker Peter Davis's account of a trip to Iraq provides
an interesting mix of first-hand experience and historical overview.
Several anecdotes illustrate Iraqis' anger at the US occupying forces
and emphasize the importance of Islam in Iraqi society. Statements
by a moderate imam who strongly opposes a separation of Mosque and
State, are important indicators of the make-up of a future Iraqi government.
(Nation)
A Failed "Transition":
The Mounting Costs of the Iraq War (September 2004)
The Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policy in Focus
provide a detailed account of the mounting costs of the US-led war
on Iraq. The figures show a large increase in spending since the "handover
of power" to the Iraqi interim government in June 2003 and outline
the costs to the US, Iraq and the world.
Iraq's
Sistani Returns, Plans to End Najaf Crisis (August 25, 2004)
Shiite Cleric Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani returned to Iraq following
heart surgery in the UK, hoping to end the fighting in the holy city
of Najaf. Reports indicate that Sistani will call for an immediate
ceasefire between US forces and followers of Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Sistani will also demand an immediate withdrawal of US forces from
the city, turning control over to Iraqi police. (Reuters)
Iraqi
National Guard Members Reluctant to Fight Mahdi Army (August 22, 2004)
The deployment of Iraq's National Guard troops to the holy city of
Najaf prompted the largest amount of desertions since April 2004,
when troops quit in protest over the siege of Fallujah. An Iraqi Commander
in Najaf claims that his troops may fight insurgents under the authority
of the Interim Government, but in reality, "it is not Iraqis who are
in command." (Knight Ridder Newspapers)
Sistani's
Trip to the UK, Fayyad Likely Successor (August 9, 2004)
Ash-Sharq al-Awsat reveals that Grand Ayatollah Sistani's planned
trip to the UK was in the works since mid-July 2004. The reports suggest
that US forces planned a siege on Najaf well before the August 2004
uprising, and that the US feared that al-Sadr may take Sistani hostage
or seek refuge in the Grand Ayatollah's home. (Informed Comment)
The
Failed Occupation (August 8, 2004)
Will Iraq emerge as the "open, democratic society," Washington and
London envisioned? Jonathan Freedland of the Guardian argues
that the censure of Arab television network al-Jazeera, charges of
murder and corruption against White House favorites Ahmed and Salem
Chalabi, and the continued presence of over 160,000 foreign troops
operating "on their own freewill," proves otherwise.
So Much
for Democracy: Iraqis Plan for Introduction of Martial Law (July 8,
2004)
Iraqi officials claim that instituting martial law is a necessary
step in stemming the attacks by insurgents throughout the country.
The legislation grants Iraqi authorities permission to impose curfews,
ban demonstrations, restrict movement of all Iraqis, phone-tap, open
mail and freeze bank accounts. Will these new measures quell the violence?
(Independent)
US Will Override
Baghdad in War on Terrorism (July 1, 2004)
US commanders in Iraq announced that "multinational" forces will continue
launching attacks against "high-profile targets," even if Iraq's Interim
Government objects to the actions. As US-led forces continue to freely
operate throughout Iraq, one wonders how much "sovereignty" Iraq's
new government can exercise. (Guardian)
Insiders
Shape Postwar Iraq (June 20, 2004)
This Chicago Tribune investigation reveals that the "planners"
of Iraq's occupation favored the appointment of numerous individuals
with "strong GOP or conservative pedigrees" to high-ranking posts
within the CPA. Career diplomats and foreign policy experts with backgrounds
in Middle East issues or nation-building were passed over because
they did not share the Defense Department's vision "that a capitalist
democracy could be quickly installed in the country."
Blair Jumps
the Gun on Iraqi Veto (May 26, 2004)
A rift between the White House and Downing Street emerged on the status
of forces in Iraq after June 30, 2004 as Prime Minister Tony Blair
announced that the Iraqi Interim Government could veto any US-led
military operations. However, Washington insists that the "multinational
force" will continue conducting military operations in the country
with or without consent from the new government. (Guardian)
The Decent
Thing (May 18, 2004)
This Newsweek article report highlights widening rifts between
US and British commanders "doctrines" in handling "post-conflict operations"
in Iraq. Senior British officers in Iraq are "seething" at the US
military's heavy-handed and overwhelming use of force throughout Iraq.
Powell Says
Troops Would Leave Iraq if New Leaders Asked (May 15, 2004)
French, Russian and Italian officials assert that an "effective
transfer of power" to an Iraqi transitional government includes ceding
control of Iraqi security forces and granting Iraq the authority to
halt military action by US-led forces. US Secretary of State Colin
Powell rejected that notion, saying that Iraqi and International forces
will remain under US command. (Washington Post)
Dissension
Grows In Senior Ranks on War Strategy (May 9, 2004)
Senior US military officers contend that the Bush administration's
Iraq policy fails to "understand the war [the US is] in." The officers
believe that the US will lose the war of "achieving its goal of establishing
a free and democratic Iraq," should the Iraq strategy fail to reflect
the needs of the Iraqi people. (Washington Post)
Security
Companies: Shadow Soldiers in Iraq (April 19, 2004)
This article examines the Pentagon's increasing reliance on private
security firms in Iraq performing crucial jobs once entrusted to the
military. Security firms, armed with state-of-the-art weaponry, provide
security for members of the Coalition Provisional Authority including
Paul Bremer, escort supply convoys through hostile territory, and
defend key locations including the "Green Zone" in downtown Baghdad.
(New York Times)
Britain and
US 'Divided on Iraq Policy' (April 14, 2004)
Michael Rubin, a former adviser to the CPA, suggests that deep divisions
between the US and the UK concerning Iraq's governance led to the
resignation of British envoy Sir Jeremy Greenstock. Officials believe
that Greenstock became increasingly frustrated at the way Paul Bremer
was running the CPA, seeing Bremer as "too ideological." (Telegraph)
US Tactics
Condemned by British Officers (April 11, 2004)
Senior British commanders contend that the US military is employing
aggressive methods to quell violence in Iraq, calling the tactics
"heavy-handed and disproportionate." The commanders believe that the
US military policy in Iraq stems from a lack of concern with the loss
of Iraqi lives, adding that US soldiers view Iraqis as "sub-humans."
(Telegraph)
Generals
in Iraq Consider Options for More Troops (April 6, 2004)
Uprisings throughout Iraq prompted US Senior Commander General John
Abizaid to request a contingency plan increasing the number of US
troops in Iraq. As the June 30, 2004 "transfer of sovereignty" date
approaches, can the US-led coalition stabilize security in the country?
(New York Times)
Iraq on the
Brink of Anarchy (April 6, 2004)
Robert Fisk reports that the upsurge in attacks on occupation forces
in Iraq has been brewing for many months. A Special Forces officer
in Iraq claims that conditions in Iraq will only get worse, adding
that Iraqi and coalition leaders will not admit to it because "they
don't know or because they don't want you to know." (Independent)
Iraq:
One Year After (March 2004)
This report by the Council for Foreign Relations (CFR) addresses
the issues confronting the US-led occupation of Iraq. CFR stresses
the importance of US acceptance for UN leadership in "developing…the
process for creating a transitional authority, procedures for elections,
and other institutions related to the transition."
Bremer Closes
Hardline Newspaper and Iraqis Ask: Is This Democracy US-Style? (March
30, 2004)
US Civilian Administrator Paul Bremer ordered a sixty-day closure
of Al-Hawza al-Natiqa, a weekly newspaper with a circulation of only
10,000 people. Bremer stated the newspaper reporting encourages attacks
against coalition forces and the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Is the US infringing on Iraqi press rights to "Freedom of Speech?"
(Independent)
Occupiers
Spend Millions on Private Army of Security Men (March 28, 2004)
Thousands of "mercenaries-for-hire," including individuals trained
in Chile under the Pinochet dictatorship, are appearing throughout
Iraq to provide security services for the Coalition Provisional Authority
(CPA) and private firms operating in the country. Is "private-policing"
the CPA's answer to stabilize security in Iraq? (Independent)
US Officials
Fashion Legal Basis to Keep Force in Iraq (March 26, 2004)
US officials contend that if negotiations for a "status-of-forces"
agreement with Iraq's transitional government fail, UN Security Council
Resolution 1511 will provide the legal justification required for
US-led coalition forces to maintain control of Iraq until December,
2005. (New York Times)
Iraq Under
the US Thumb (March 24, 2004)
Naomi Klein contends that continued instability ironically benefits
the US agenda in Iraq. Violence against Iraqi civilians, foreign aid
workers and journalists, as well as occupation forces, allows Washington
to maintain troops in Iraq, install a "sovereign Iraqi government"
completely favorable to them and allow unfettered access to Iraqi
oil resources.
US Will Retain
Power in Sovereign Iraq (March 21, 2004)
Iraqi and US officials maintain that ending the US-led occupation
on June 30, 2004 will simply be a symbolic gesture. The US, with its
world's largest embassy in Baghdad, will hold most power, while the
Iraqi government's functions will be limited to drafting a budget
for 2005 and preparing for general elections. (Associated Press)
General
Sacked by Bush Says He Wanted Early Elections (March 18, 2004)
Former civilian administrator of Iraq US General Jay Garner claims
that his opposition to White House demands not to hold free elections
and to promote a program of economic privatization, led to his dismissal
after one month. (Guardian)
The Right
Exit (March 15, 2004)
What are the responsibilities of a "de-occupying power?" Human Rights
Watch Director Kenneth Roth outlines the duties of the occupational
authority after June 30, 2004 transfer of power to a transitional
government, including reinforcement of national security and the establishment
of a stable and legitimate political structure. (New Statesman)
Unmet
Social Needs a Powder Keg for Instability (March 13, 2004)
Both Iraqi and international leaders warn that continued delays in
reconstruction of social infrastructure, including the health care
and education systems, increases the possibility of civil unrest in
Iraq. The leaders contend that the stability of future Iraqi governments
hedges on the ability in meeting basic social needs. (Inter Press
Service)
US
Wants Military Control in Iraq, Even After Sovereignty Handed Over
(March 13, 2004)
Officials in Washington worry that a sovereign Iraqi government may
restrain activities of US forces in the country, limiting the US command
over Iraq's military and police, as well as restricting US authority
over killing of insurgents and interrogation of Iraqi prisoners. Negotiation
of a treaty governing the status of foreign troops will resume after
June 30, 2004. (Associated Press)
Democracy
How? (March 1, 2004)
The deteriorating security situation in Iraq leads to renewed calls
by Iraqis throughout the country to end the US-led occupation. They
contend that stabilization of the country will occur only if the UN
assumes control over the transitional process, eliminating any US
influence in determining Iraq's future. (American Prospect)
Sunnis
Need Breathing Space Before Any Iraq Polls (February 13, 2004)
In a post-war political spectrum dominated by the Shiites and Kurds,
Iraq's Sunni population is afraid of being "swept away by the Shi'ites."
This article argues that the Sunni, traditionally associated with
the Saddam Hussein regime, do not have established political leaders
and will lack proper representation in the new Iraq. (Reuters)
Controlling
Iraq's Skies: The Secret Sell-Off of Iraq's Air Industry (February
9, 2004)
An Open Society Institute report claims that the Coalition
Provisional Authority in Iraq sold 75 percent of Iraq's state airline
to an Iraqi family, despite proclaiming that the sale of Iraq's state
assets would end. It argues that the US is in danger of creating a
class of elites in Iraq, similar to that of post-communist Russia.
"Would It
Hurt Them to Try?" (February 9, 2004)
This article, written by a 16-year-old Iraqi girl, discusses the impacts
of US occupation on Iraq's people and way of life. Regarding the US
forces, she says Iraq's culture "has been around for too long to be
stomped on by people who have no appreciation of from where they,
themselves, have relatively recently migrated." (YellowTimes)
Division
of Iraq Would Likely Breed Regional Instability (January 28, 2004)
This Power and Interest News Report article examines likely
scenarios resulting from a division of Iraq into three separate states.
The article argues that an autonomous Kurdish state would spark conflict
with Turkey and Syria, while Iran would gain increased control and
influence over the Shiite population thereby strengthening its bargaining
position in the Middle East.
Iraq:
Critical Days Ahead (January 26, 2004)
The Middle East Economic Survey argues that current US plans
to hold caucuses selecting an Iraqi transitional government, only
serves to marginalize dissenting groups thereby planting "the seeds
of a civil war." Instead, the US should take the initiative "to bring
all groups together "to reach a new social contract to replace the
old one before the elections are held."
Of
Course the White House Fears Free Elections in Iraq (January 24, 2004)
Washington opposes elections in Iraq fearing that an elected and representative
government will choose to expel the US occupiers. Explaining the US
argument that elections are not feasible, the Guardian argues
only an appointed government "can be trusted to accept US troops and
corporations."
Civil
War Possible in Iraq, CIA Says (January 22, 2004)
The White House will almost certainly oppose any proposed postponement
of a power transfer in Iraq. It wants the occupation over and hopes
to bring many US troops home by this summer, to bolster Bush's re-election
chances. Knight Ridder News Service reports that the US is
prepared to go ahead with the power transfer "whatever the fallout"
may be.
Hussein
Warned Iraqis to Beware Outside Fighters (January 13, 2004)
Documents found on Saddam Hussein confirm that the US accusations
of collaboration between Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein were unfounded.
The New York Times argues that the CIA believes "Mr. bin Laden
saw Mr. Hussein as one of the corrupt secular Arab leaders who should
be toppled."
In Iraq,
Timing is Everything (January 13, 2004)
The Iraqi Ministry of Planning proposed a process of voter registration
that allows for elections as early as September 2004, ensuring representation
of all Iraqis. But the CPA considers this process as "too time-consuming"
and insists on completing elections before May. With US presidential
elections due in November and mounting pressure on the US for meaningful
results, Foreign Policy in Focus questions the true US commitment
to Iraqi democracy.
US Coalition
Forces Above the Law, According to the CPA (January 5, 2004)
How can the Coalition get away with killing civilians, religious leaders,
protesters and journalists, wonders the Electronic Iraq? CPA
Order Number 17 deals with the status of the Coalition personnel:
"They shall be immune from local criminal, civil, and administrative
jurisdiction and from any form of arrest or detention."
2003
Dangers of a Drawn-out War (April 6, 2003)
This prescient article highlights similarities between the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the German invasion of Yugoslavia in 1941. Both countries possessed precious raw materials and neither had the military power to match that of their imperialistic aggressors. Like today's Iraq, Yugoslavia was ethnically divided but a growing partisan resistance developed following the short military campaign. After a long and bitter guerilla war, the resistance forced a German withdrawal. A similar scenario may unfold for the US in Iraq. (Forward)
Strategic
Trade-offs in Iraq (December 15, 2003)
Since the US launched its new hard-line Operation Iron Hammer attacks
on Washington's allies have increased in Iraq. These more aggressive
policies alienate many Iraqis. (Power and Interest News Report)
A Sunday in
Samarra (December 7, 2003)
Official US military sources and the people of Samara deeply disagree
about what happened in the "Battle of Samarra." Reporters say that
the information given by the US military doesn't add up. (Inter
Press Service)
Powell
Reports Progress with NATO on Iraq (December 5, 2003)
US Secretary
of State Colin Powell says "key American allies" reacted favorably to his appeal
to NATO to take a direct role in "Iraq's reconstruction." Washington expects that
international opposition will soften when the US hands over sovereignty to a transitional
Iraqi government. (Los Angeles Times)
Governing
Council in "a Serious Crisis" (December 4, 2003)
The US-appointed
Iraqi Governing Council loses support from the Iraqi people. The Iraqis blame
the Council for the power outages, lack of security and other problems in the
country. (USA Today)
Recent Visitors
Question US Tactics (December 3, 2003)
Middle East experts say that US military tactics fighting resistance
to the occupation may create new enemies among the Iraqis. Serious
political mistakes have undermined the prospects for eventual US success.
(Inter Press Service)
Parallels
between US Occupation of Iraq and US Involvement in Vietnam (November 28, 2003)
Iraqi resistance fighters might not defeat the US military, but the
US military cannot conquer the Iraqi resistance fighters either. The Iraqi insurgency
aims at undermining Washington through US public opinion rather than military
victory. (Power and Interest News Report)
Iraqis
Begin Debating the Riddles of Sovereignty (November 26, 2003)
The plan to accelerate the transfer of power leaves many complex questions open,
such as the status of Islam and how much authority the Kurdish areas will have.
(Los Angeles Times)
Iraqi
CPA Fires 28,000 (November 21, 2003)
US government officials
scathingly criticized the decision taken by the Coalition Provisional Authority
to fire 28,000 Iraqi teachers as a form of political punishment for their past
affiliation with Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party. Said one former CIA official,
"[US] ideologues don't seem to grasp the seriousness of their acts." (United
Press International)
Perception
and Reality (November 20, 2003)
This author believes that in establishing a new government for Iraq,
planners should focus less on "nationalism" and "self-determination,"
and more on including the Iraqi citizens in the ownership of the country's
oil wealth. (Asia Times)
Surprising
Roadblocks for the US in Iraq (November 17, 2003)
The US lacks
not only the personnel to stabilize security in Iraq, but also the money to quickly
rebuild the country's shattered infrastructure. The Power and Interest News
Report looks at these obstacles that cripple the world's biggest military
power.
Speeding Up
Iraqification (November 14, 2003)
Coalition Provisional Authority
leader Paul Bremer made an urgent visit to the White House in the wake of escalating
violence against US military personnel and its partners. The Economist
speculates that the emergency meeting signifies Washington's wish to hasten the
handover of power to the Iraqis.
US
Occupation of Iraq Entering Critical Phase (November 12, 2003)
This article from Power and Interest News Report compares the Bush administration-led
"Iraqification" to "Vietnamization" policies of the 1960's and 70's. The article
points out that Washington never succeeded in installing a Vietnamese government
that simultaneously followed US interests and enjoyed local legitimacy.
Few
Parallels with Germany and Japan (November 9, 2003)
US President
George Bush often mentions Germany and Japan as successful examples of US occupation.
Yet experts point out the danger of misusing historical analogies. Bush and others
use these analogies "the way a drunk uses a lamp post, not for illumination but
for support." (Miami Herald)
Iraq
Small Arms Are a Big Threat (November 5, 2003)
The US estimates
that there are over 650,000 tons of small arms in post-war Iraq. This article
from the Christian Science Monitor criticizes the US weapons buyback program,
claiming that it feeds a flourishing black market weapons trade and perpetuates
a climate of insecurity in the country.
US Administrator
Imposes Flat Tax System on Iraq (November 2, 2003)
Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) leader Paul Bremer implemented
a 15% flat tax on corporate and individual income in Iraq. The news
discomforted Iraqi leadership closest to the CPA. "A piece of social
engineering is being done on Iraq, but it has almost no support from
. . . the Iraqi Governing Council," said a commentator. (Washington
Post)
The Arab
World After the Occupation of Iraq (October 2003)
This article from Le Monde diplomatique highlights the strategic
objectives of the US National Security Strategy (NSS). The article
bemoans the neoconservative ideology behind the document, and the
drive to use military force to achieve its objectives.
Hard
to Leave, Harder to Occupy (September 19, 2003)
The leaders of
Kurdish factions, the Iraq National Accord and other groups that resisted the
reign of Saddam Hussein offer a plan to quell Iraqi resentment of the occupying
powers. One proposal asks the occupying powers to cease their "frontline" occupation
tactics and hand over policing and patrolling to the groups' own militias. (Inter
Press Service)
An
Unsustainable Policy on Iraq (September 14, 2003)
This New
York Times editorial criticizes the Bush administration for mishandling post-war
Iraq and its relations with the international community. Unfortunately, "moving
forward will require new thinking from an administration that has shown little
inclination to learn from its mistakes."
Some Grim News
About Iraq: Bush Warns of a Heavy Burden (September 8, 2003)
A former foreign policy advisor to George Bush describes the US President's vision
for post-war Iraq as "optimism blended with a touch of naí¯veté." A speech to the
nation mixed ingenuous platitudes with sobering glimpses of reality, such as the
$87 billion price tag of occupation. (New York Times)
Don't
Say We Were Not Warned About This Chaos (September 5, 2003)
"Bring
‘em on," US President George Bush taunted guerrilla fighters in Iraq. The guerillas
have taken him at his word, says Robert Fisk, so the current turmoil is not surprising.
(Independent)
Quagmire?
What Quagmire? (September 3, 2003)
This Foreign Policy in Focus article cites data on military
and civilian casualties and the cost of occupation to argue that the
aftermath of the US-led war in Iraq is worse than a quagmire: it's
a black hole.
Political, Economic
Costs of Occupation Mount (August 29, 2003)
The costs of occupation keep growing with the rising number of US
causalities and the declining legitimacy of Washington in the Arab
world. On the economic side, Bremer announced that oil revenues would
not be able to cover Iraq's financial needs. (Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty)
Governing
Iraq (August 25, 2003)
This report argues that the US should allocate governing responsibilities
in post-war Iraq among the Coalition Provisional Authority, UN and
Iraqi Interim Governing Council. The report makes further recommendations
on governing Iraq to the Occupying Forces, UN, Interim Governing Council
and the Arab League. (International Crisis Group)
Alone, the US Will Fail
(August 24, 2003)
Will Hutton argues that the continuing attacks
on the Occupying Forces and the bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad illustrate
that peace in Iraq will remain elusive until the US truly internationalizes reconstruction.
(Observer)
Iraq the Ungovernable (August 20, 2003)
The BBC argues
that foreign powers have always found Iraq ungovernable. It cites the example
of Britain's past difficulties of maintaining control over Iraq in the 1920s.
How America Created
a Terrorist Haven (August 20, 2003)
Professor Jessica Stern,
a Harvard terrorist expert, argues that the bombing of the UN headquarters in
Baghdad constitutes the latest evidence that the US has turned Iraq into a terrorist
threat to the international community. (New York Times)
Portrait of an Iraqi Rebel (August 16,
2003)
The Bush administration and Coalition Provisional Authority
consistently emphasize that Ba'ath loyalists and some Islamic fundamentalists
are responsible for the attacks on US soldiers. Salon provides a contrasting
view with an interview of an anti-Ba'athist and non-fundamentalist Iraqi rebel
opposed to the US occupation.
Women's
Rights Become a Struggle in Iraq (August 14, 2003)
Iraqi women
increasingly face harassment, abduction and rape in the post-war era. The Occupying
Forces have offered little security, much less help with women's financial needs.
This article details the activities of Yanar Mohammed, co-founder of the Organization
of Women's Freedom. (United Press International)
Terror's
Gains (August 13, 2003)
In post-war Iraq, organizations linked
to al-Qaida have brought men into Iraq to fight the Occupying Forces. Since the
end of war, Iraq looks like a fertile ground for terrorists. Therefore, the Baltimore
Sun argues that post-war Iraq may constitute a greater threat to international
security then its pre-war state.
Basra
Could Boil Over Again (August 12, 2003)
Improved electricity supplies ended two days of protests and rioting
in Iraq's second largest city of Basra. However, some Iraqis warn
that riots will reignite and spread if living conditions worsen. (Los
Angeles Times)
Tension Grows
Between US Troops, Iraqis (August 9, 2003)
Amnesty International accuses the US Army of violating international
law by subjecting Iraqi prisoners to "cruel, inhuman or degrading"
conditions. The US denies these claims. Furthermore, tensions grow
between the US Army and the people of Iraq as Iraqis perceive that
the Occupying Forces mistreat them and show a lack of respect for
their culture. (Associated Press)
Let
Iraqis Decide What to Privatize (August 5, 2003)
Washington's
plan to sell government-owned companies in Iraq to private investors assumes two
things: that privatization represents what free people anywhere prefer and that
it's best for them. Both of these assumptions are questionable. Columbia University
Professor Moshe Adler believes that these decisions are best left to the people
of Iraq. (Washington Post)
US
Fostering Sinister Sort of Democracy (August 1, 2003)
Robert
Fisk argues that a unique form of "democracy" has begun to develop in Iraq under
the Occupying Forces. This "democracy" results in a paternalistic ruler acting
autocratically but moderately, to govern Iraq and allow the US to leave. As Daniel
Pipes asserts, "democratic-minded autocrats can guide [Iraq] to full democracy
better than snap elections." (Independent)
Soaring
Costs of ' Rescuing' Iraq (July 31, 2003)
Washington forecasted
that the "liberation of Iraq" was the war that would pay for itself, and give
US corporations the inside track into the world's second largest source of oil.
Instead, the post-war situation has degenerated into a fiscal nightmare. (International
Press Service)
Iraq:
Meeting the Challenge, Sharing the Burden, Staying the Course (July 30, 2003)
US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations report on post-war Iraq
reconstruction efforts. The report recommends deploying "sufficient" forces to
subdue Iraqi resistance, intensify efforts to recruit and retrain Iraqi police,
and share the burden of reconstruction by seeking a broader role for the UN, NATO
and others US allies.
US
Bartering Arms for Soldiers for Iraq (July 30, 2003)
Amidst
the rising death toll among US soldiers in Iraq the US attempts to "buy" foreign
troops for a proposed 30,000-strong multinational force in Baghdad. (International
Press Service)
"They
Treat Us Like Cattle" (July 30, 2003)
Arrests and abuses by US
forces continue to rise in Iraq. In addition, Iraqi detainees and prisoners often
encounter inhumane conditions while imprisoned by the Occupational Forces. Amnesty
International has denounced the inhumane treatment of prisoners by US forces.
(La Liberation)
A
Closed Circle of Collaborators (July 28, 2003)
Most Iraqis don't
trust the Iraqi Governing Council, the first national political body since the
fall Saddam Hussein's regime. Interviewing politicians, academics and unaffiliated
Iraqi citizens, the International Center of Occupation Watch found that
many are worried by the body's unrepresentative nature and lack of democratic
legitimacy.
US Adopts
Aggressive Tactics on Iraqi Fighters (July 28, 2003)
The US
military has responded to increased guerrilla attacks with aggressive and even
illegal counter-measures, such as hostage taking. This report from Baghdad tells
how US forces seized the wife and daughter of a wanted Iraqi lieutenant general
to pressure him into surrendering. (Washington Post)
Iraq
and the Broader War (July 28, 2003)
The assassination of Saddam
Hussein's sons has not deterred, nor slowed the pace of the Iraqi guerrilla resistance.
The current disarray within the Bush administration complicates US strategy to
control guerrilla attacks. (Stratfor Weekly)
I
Did Not Want to be a Collaborator (July 27, 2003)
A former member
of the Iraqi Reconstruction Council explains that his decision to resign was based
on his disillusionment with the council's role. He says that the council did not,
as he had envisioned, work with the US as allies in a democratic fashion, but
instead collaborated with them as occupying forces. (Observer)
Noble Act or Political Assassination?
(July 25, 2003)
With the Bush administration's "just war" lying
in ruins, the killings of the Hussein brothers looks more like a zealous political
assassination than a noble act. (Boston Globe)
Trapped
in a Quagmire, Again (July 25, 2003)
History proves that people
often underestimate the consequences of war. This article puts the errors of the
Bush administration in its handling of post-war Iraq in a historical context,
drawing comparisons to World War I and other past wars. (Chicago Sun Times)
Body Counts (July
25, 2003)
As the death toll for the US rises daily, regular people in the US
begin to think about what it means to fight what's now acknowledged
as a guerrilla war. Comparisons between the war against Iraq and the
Vietnam War have begun to circulate. Christopher Dickey believes that
this war could become worse than Vietnam. (Newsweek)
Memorandum on Concerns
Relating to Law and Order (July 23, 2003)
This report highlights
the issues relating to the overall legal framework in US-occupied Iraq. It addresses
concerns relating to the use of force, detention practices, treatment in custody,
searches and the role of the judiciary; and it calls for the need to ensure accountability
of the Coalition Provisional Authority. (Amnesty International)
The Ugly
Truth of America's Camp Cropper (July 22, 2003)
Robert Fisk accuses the US military in Iraq of beating Iraqi prisoners
during interrogations and gunning down three prisoners "while trying
to escape." Fisk tells the story of a Danish citizen captured by the
US military and detained at the military's "Camp Cropper" for over
30 days without notifying his family or the Danish government. (Independent)
Chaos
in Bush's Iraq (July 18, 2003)
Paul Bremer, the US-appointed
overseer of Iraq, claims, "For the first time in decades, Iraqis are truly free."
Yet ordinary Iraqis still do not experience democracy and they suffer from lack
of basic essentials and security instabilities under the current US occupation
of Iraq. (Socialist Worker)
US High
Horse Now Riderless (July 17, 2003)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says that if Vietnam was the
place where the US lost its innocence, Iraq may be the place where
it loses its arrogance. With the continuing controversies over Washington's
justifications for war and resistance against the US occupation, the
Bush administration is increasingly on the defensive.
Iraq Cost Could Mount to $100 Billion
(July 13, 2003)
US congressional aides say that the cost of
the war and occupation of Iraq may reach $100 billion by next year. With the US
federal budget deficit growing each day, these projected war costs could have
serious negative impacts for other federal programs. (Washington Post)
No Real Planning
For Postwar Iraq (July 12, 2003)
Civilian officials in the Defense
Department who dominated planning for post-war Iraq failed to prepare for recent
setbacks. In post-war Iraq, US forces face growing instability, while losing soldiers
daily to escalating guerrilla attacks. In addition, the cost of occupation has
reached almost $4 billion a month. (Knight Ridder Newspapers)
Want to Criticize the Israelis for
Shooting Stone-Throwers in Gaza? (July 12, 2003)
Robert Fisk
argues that US forces in Iraq have begun committing the same atrocities as the
Israelis in Palestine. He compares the US attack on an Iraqi suburb, killing 16
innocent victims, with Israeli's bombing of a poor residential area in Gaza that
killed the same number of civilians. The Bush administration condemned this Israeli
attack in Gaza. (Independent)
Internationalization
of Occupation or Pluralism of Reconstruction? (July 11, 2003)
Will the US try to internationalize Iraq's administration by returning to some
sort of mulitlaterialism in the reconstruction process or will it internationalize
the occupation under its total control? The latter would make other countries
accept losses the US now suffers. (Al-Hayat)
How
Will We Know What Victory Looks Like In Iraq? (July 11, 2003)
Successes in the Gulf War and Afghanistan memories of the war in Vietnam. So far,
the Iraq War has not degenerated into the horrors of Vietnam, but US soldiers
face growing Iraqi opposition. (Chicago Sun-Times)
Power Cuts
and Lost Jobs Stir Anti-US Anger (July 11, 2003)
The US has clearly squandered most of the credit it enjoyed at that
symbolic moment of Iraq's "liberation." Since then, the Occupying
Forces have failed to deliver democracy, security and basic resources.
This has created a dire living situation in much of Iraq, fueling
anti-US sentiments. (Guardian)
US Repeats Vietnam-Era
Arrogance (July 9, 2003)
In the aftermath of President Bush's
comment to "bring on" Iraqi resistance to the Occupying Powers, the US government
created a new perception that it is a haughty superpower. Such arrogance harkens
back to Vietnam and the observation of Martin Luther King Jr. that the US were
''strange liberators.'' (Boston Globe)
Say
It: This Is a Quagmire (July 7, 2003)
The body count of US soldiers
rises daily as the Occupying Forces encounter armed resistance. The media continues
to minimize the number of losses, feeding a growing anger among military personnel
and their families. (Alternet)
Some
See Shades of Vietnam in Iraq (July 6, 2003)
Military analysts
insist that the US faces a guerrilla war in Iraq, comparable to that of past struggles
in Asia and Latin America. They express fear that the Bush administration underestimates
the scope and magnitude of the insurgency. (Chicago Tribune)
Only the Arabs Can Save Iraq - and Save
America from a New Vietnam! (July 4, 2003)
In spite of the tough
talk in the Bush administration, the US public and government are anxious about
pacifying and reconstructing Iraq. Al-Hayat proposes that an ‘Arab force'
take responsibilty of Iraq.
"Bring 'Em
On?" (July 3, 2003)
In this article, a former Special Forces soldier critically responds
to Bush's cowboy confidence of US troops in post-war occupation of
Iraq. (Counterpunch)
Imperial
History Repeats Itself (July 3, 2003)
Post-war US troops in Iraq
remain vulnerable to attacks by people struggling under foreign rule. Washington's
solution resembles that of London's at the beginning of the 20th century: call
for reinforcements from other countries that did not take part in the attack.
(Guardian)
Expectations
Gap Rankles Iraq (July 2, 2003)
Social insecurity and acts of
sabotage continue to grow in Iraq. This narrows the opportunity for the Occupying
Powers to conduct large-scale political and economic program. (Christian Science
Monitor)
Occupation Forces
Halt Elections Throughout Iraq (June 28, 2003)
US military commanders
ordered a halt to all local elections and self-rule in provincial cities and towns
across Iraq. The Occupying Forces instead plan to install handpicked mayors and
administrators, many of whom are former Iraqi military leaders. This exemplifies
the Occupiers' lack of commitment to democracy in Iraq. (Washington Post)
The Roving Eye (June 27,
2003)
The Iraq War was officially declared over on May 1, 2003;
yet, the Occupying Forces continue to suffer losses daily. The people of Iraq
view the Bush administration as perpetuating the occupation by maintaining chaos,
exacerbating violence and deepening divisions among Iraqis. (Asia Times)
The United States in Iraq
(June 26, 2003)
The invasion and occupation of Iraq by the US
and UK embodies a new unilateral approach to post-conflict humanitarian action.
In post-war Iraq, UN agencies and NGOs are expected to play supportive roles within
a Pentagon managed effort. Early results of this approach have not been promising
as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. (Foreign Policy in
Focus)
The Specter
of Vietnam (June 26, 2003)
Howard Zinn, author and historian,
believes that despite the obvious differences between the Iraq and Vietnam wars,
there are enough similarities to justify their comparison. Both wars were fought
on justifications created by lying to the US public. In addition, both wars were
based on fears of an "imminent threat" later proven false. (Tom Paine)
Sweet Land of Liberty
(June 26, 2003)
Mass graves found in Iraq contain the victims
from the atrocities of the Hussein regime. These graves were dug long ago when
US officials such as Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld pursued closer ties with
Iraq. (Counterpunch)
Bring
the British Troops Home (June 26, 2003)
The killing of 6 UK
soldiers by a civilian uprising in Iraq surprised many in the US and UK. Resistence
by Iraqi civilians should come as no surprise to the peoples of the UK or US.
Occupation forces kill Iraqi civilians and conduct Vietnam-style "search and destroy"
raids on people's homes. (Guardian)
The
Path to Peace (June 25, 2003)
The Occupying Forces should have
total control of Iraq, yet they remain isolated and disorganized. The Coalition
Provisional Authority has so far failed in attempting to bring normality to Iraq.
In addition, the task of bringing peace and security to Iraq seems as if it will
only get harder in time. (Independent)
Our
Role in Iraq Affects US Politics (June 24, 2003)
The success
or failure of the US occupation in Iraq still rests on a knife's edge. The US
won an easy military victory but it has been unable to turn this into a political
victory. The continuing volatile situation in Iraq and the response from the people
of Iraq will directly affect the next US presidential election. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
'We Will Send Them
Back the Bodies of Their Soldiers' (June 22, 2003)
Professor
Firas Al-Atraqchi believes that the people of Iraq fare far worse now than they
did under the Hussein regime. Iraqis no longer feel safe in their own homes. Rape
and murder rule the night. They lack electricity, and adequate amounts of food
and medicine. These dire conditions create a breeding ground for Iraqi resistance.
(Yellow Times)
Bush's
Vietnam (June 22, 2003)
John Pilger, author and documentary
filmmaker, draws comparisons between the "rapacious adventures' of the US in Iraq
and Afghanistan with the Vietnam War. Once again, the media talks of the US military
being "sucked into a quagmire." (New Statesman)
Iraq:
Arabs Challenge US Plans to Open Nation to Multinationals (June 22, 2003)
Paul Bremer, Washington's leading official in Iraq, favors opening Iraq
to trade and foreign investment and privatizing government businesses. Arab business
and political leaders defy these plans to transform the economy into a free market,
opening it to exploitation by the world's multinational companies. (Inter Press
Service)
Powerless
Iraqis Rail Against Ignorant, Air-Conditioned US Occupation Force
(June 22, 2003)
Few Iraqis mourn the fall of the Hussein regime, but the Occupying
Forces spark resentment in their failure to provide basic resources.
According to one citizen, "they can take our oil, but at least they
should let us have electricity and water." (Independent)
Smashed
US Memorial Points to Deepening Iraqi Anger (June 20, 2003)
A memorial commemorating the death of a US soldier during the war has sparked
anger from the local people in Baghdad. Soon after raising the memorial, Iraqis
destroyed it out of frustration with the US occupiers' continuing presence and
their failure to deliver security, democracy, or even full-time electricity. (Christian
Science Monitor)
Time
to Let Iraqis Step Up (June 20, 2003)
The US should encourage
the transformation of Iraq into a modern and dynamic nation as rapidly as possible.
Instead, occupation "czar" Paul Bremer's go-slow, crisis-management style impedes
the democratization of the new Iraq. In the process, his policies push the image
of a war of liberation into a war of occupation. (Washington Post)
'I
Just Pulled the Trigger' (June 19, 2003)
The Evening Standard
interviews a group of US troops who describe their experiences during the
attack on Iraq and the post-war period. These soldiers admit to having "killed
civilians without hesitation, shot wounded fighters and left others to die in
agony."
Who Is Governing
Iraq? (June 19, 2003)
This article presents a general outline
of who runs post-war Iraq and the organization of the operation of the Coalition
government. (Washington Post)
The
Right to Resist (June 19, 2003)
Since the collapse of the Hussein
regime, Iraq sinks deeper into chaos and insecurity. US forces increasingly lash
out against Iraqi attacks, which kill an average of one US soldier a day. (Guardian)
Just Another Day in
Baghdad (June 19, 2003)
Unemployment, fear and bitterness characterize
life for the people of Baghdad. The US withholds the pay it has promised to recently
laid-off Iraqi soldiers. These soldiers' demonstration against the administration
has resulted in injuries and deaths. (Guardian)
What
Are Americans Dying for Now? (June 18, 2003)
Oil is a precious
commodity for which the US government will sacrifice its citizens. Oil represents
the real reason for why the Bush administration went to war. This conclusion becomes
increasingly apparent as US soldiers continue to die at a growing rate. (Boston
Globe)
Moral Guises
(June 18, 2003)
Al-Ahram accuses President George Bush
and Prime Minister Tony Blair of deliberately misleading the world into a war
they had already planned. They now defend the war on moral grounds, arguing that
democracy will come to Iraq. Yet the occupying forces have done little in post-war
Iraq to promote democracy.
Not So Fast! (June 18, 2003)
Political opposition figures in
Iraq remain unimpressed and hostile toward US plans to appoint a political council
to assist in running the occupied country. Ayatollah Mohamed Ali Sistani, a prominent
religious authority, states, "the American campaign to put an end to Saddam's
tyranny now looks like an occupation, not a liberation." (Al-Ahram)
From
Liberation to Counter-Insurgency (June 18, 2003)
President George
Bush declared that Operation Iraqi Freedom had liberated Iraq from the evil Hussein
regime. US forces now fight daily domestic resistance and act less like liberators
and more like "offensive occupiers." (Asia Times)
America's
Rebuilding of Iraq Is in Chaos, Say British (June 17, 2003)
A Senior British official in Baghdad states that the US-led reconstruction of
Iraq is "in chaos" and suffering from "a complete absence of strategic direction."
The US has transposed Washington's inter-departmental fighting to the severely
understaffed Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Baghdad. (Daily Telegraph)
The War Continues
(June 17, 2003)
The self-censoring US media did not report the
June 9th launch of the largest military offensive in Iraq since the fall of Baghdad.
This omission left US citizens unaware that President George Bush not only lied
about the existence of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, but also about the
end of the war.(ZNet)
US Faces
Long, Hot Summer in Deadly Tinderbox (June 17, 2003)
Iraqi military attacks against US occupying forces are on the rise.
This may be an indication of a continual guerrilla war against the
US military. Journalists have begun draw parallels to the Vietnam
War. (New Zealand Herald)
Iraq
Occupation Has Deadly Toll for US (June 16, 2003)
More US military
personnel have died in Iraq in the last month than in Afghanistan over the last
year. Forty-six US casualties have resulted from fighting after the war, representing
a continuing threat from Ba'ath party loyalists and others opposed to US occupation.
(Boston Globe)
US
Antiguerrilla Campaign Draws Iraqi Ire (June 16, 2003)
Recent
US military operations in Iraq have focused on capturing or killing pro-Baathist
guerrillas and "terrorists who try to hinder rebuilding efforts." These operations
and attempts at collecting civilian weapons cause grave concerns among Iraqi citizens
trapped in the midst of a security crisis. (Christian Science Monitor)
US Hunt for Baath Members
Humiliates, Angers Villagers (June 15, 2003)
US troops raided
the village of Thuluya in their hunt for Ba'ath party loyalists leaving 3 civilians
dead. US forces arrested and subsequently detained 400 residents. The experience
has "transformed" the village, creating distrust and animosity in the town against
the US. (Washington Post)
As US Fans
Out in Iraq, Violence and Death on Rise (June 14, 2003)
Numerous contradictory reports accompany militant attacks against
US forces. US troops claim to have killed 5 "attackers," while local
residents assert that they were merely innocent bystanders. (New
York Times)
Bloodshed
Ends US Honeymoon (June 11, 2003)
An increasingly regular series
of attacks against coalition forces has unsettled the occupying forces in Iraq.
Forty-two US servicemen have been killed since the Bush administration declared
the war officially over on May 1, 2003. (Daily Telegraph)
Gives
with One Hand, Takes Away with the Other (June 11, 2003)
L.
Paul Bremer III, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, has come out against
"hate speech" in the newly free Iraqi media. He has recently assigned himself
the task of monitoring the Iraqi press with absolute powers and the censorship
has begun. (Index)
Islam,
Democracy, and Human Rights in Iraq (June 11, 2003)
Kamran Memon,
a civil rights attorney and founder of the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago,
believes that the consensus to become a democracy and the desire for an Islamic
state are two parallel forces at work in Iraq. How Iraqis act under this influence
will determine whether the two blend harmoniously or collide in conflict. (Yellow
Times)
Downsizing
in Disguise (June 5, 2003)
Naomi Klein insists that Iraq is currently undergoing rapid "structural
adjustments" like those seen previously in Russia and Argentina. These
past economic "shock therapies" crippled the economies of those countries
and are likely to do the same in Iraq. (Nation)
Iraqis
Not Ready For Democracy, Says Blair's Envoy (June 3, 2003)
Special
Envoy to Iraq John Sawers declared that Iraq's political culture is too weak and
the country is not ready for democracy. He further claimed that the Coalition
forces failed to realize how much the Iraqis' "attitude problems" after decades
of oppression would impede reconstruction of the country. (Times)
The
Day of the Jackals (June 2, 2003)
In a speech at the national
anti-war teach in, Arundhati Roy stated that "the US invasion of Iraq was perhaps
the most cowardly war ever fought in history." (ZNet)
US
Increases Role in Picking Iraqi Leaders (June 2, 2003)
The US
has canceled plans for a national conference among the people of Iraq. Instead,
the occupying powers will assemble an alternative council to work quickly toward
an interim government. (Los Angeles Times)
A Tale of
Two Baghdads (June 2, 2003)
The Washington Post states that soldiers are reporting a warm
welcome from Iraqi citizens, but that this may be ill-perceived as
many residents express ambivalence or outright anger.
Descending
into the Quagmire (June 2003)
Retired US colonel Daniel Smith
asserts that the Bush administration's handling of Iraq parallels the mistakes
of Vietnam-era predecessors. (Foreign Policy in Focus)
The
Troops Are Afraid to Go Out at Night (May 30, 2003)
Robert Fisk
of the Independent reports about the dangerous reality in post-Saddam Iraq.
The US "liberation" has turned into anarchy on the streets of Baghdad.
Occupation
Regime Installed in Iraq (May 26, 2003)
Hans von Sponeck, former
UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Aid to Iraq, discusses the impacts of the war
and the future of Iraq with the German newspaper Junge Welt.
Not Another Afghanistan (May
28, 2003)
Afghanis fear Iraqis will suffer the same years of unrest,
countless dead and desperate poverty as Afghanistan does. They also worry that
because of the war and reconstruction of Iraq, US and Europe will forget about
the people of Afghanistan.(Alternet)
UN
Chiefs Warns of Anti-American Backlash in Iraq (May 27, 2003)
Ramiro Lopes da Silva, the UN's most senior humanitarian official in Iraq, criticizes
some of the US post-war reconstruction plans. He said that US attempts to rebuild
the country are overly dominated by "ideology" and risk triggering a violent backlash.
(Guardian)
Gun
Gangs Rule Streets as US Loses Control (May 25, 2003)
The US
has failed to provide security for the people of Baghdad. The population has armed
itself with weaponry looted from the military stores and the city has spiraled
into anarchy with daily shootings. (Observer)
Who
Is Governing Iraq? (May 22, 2003)
A brief guide in the Washington
Post explaining some key components in the US Military occupation of Iraq.
It includes information about key players, the role of Iraqi leaders and the role
of the US military.
Plan
to Secure Postwar Iraq Faulted (May 19, 2003)
Washington is perceived,
as an occupier in Iraq and lawlessness is widespread in the country. According
to peacekeeping experts, Pentagon made a mistake to ignore lessons from previous
operations, for example in Balkans and Afghanistan. (Washington Post)
Iraqis
Say Anarchy Could Lead to Anti-US Violence (May 19, 2003)
Grievance
is growing among Iraqis against US failure to restore law and order in Baghdad.
Othman, a taxi driver described the post-Saddan situation for the people in Iraq
as "now we live in terror from crime and we live in poverty." (Reuters)
In Reversal, Plan for
Iraq Self-Rule Has Been Put Off (May 17, 2003)
The US and the
UK have decided until further notice to put off the plan to permit Iraqi opposition
to form a national assembly. Leaders of the opposition group were disappointed
by the decision to have allied officials in charge of Iraq for an indefinite period
of time. (New York Times)
In
Baghdad, a Surge in Homicides (May 16, 2003)
There are major
problems of law in Baghdad more than a month after US troops entered the capital.
Armed robberies and revenge killings are frequent and the homicide rate is rapidly
increasing. (Christian Science Monitor)
Coalition
Troops Are Accused of Torture (May 16, 2003)
Amnesty International
is investigating claims that prisoners of war in Iraq have been kicked and beaten
by soldiers while being interrogated by US and UK forces. (Associated Press)
Port Handed Back
to Iraqis (May 15, 2003)
UK soldiers that captured the southern
city Umm Qasr have handed back the city to Iraqi civilian rule. In a week, elections
will be held in Umm Qasr to appoint a council. (BBC)
US
Still Looking For a Winning Team (May 15, 2003)
Changes in the
US administration of Iraq include Paul Bremer taking over the civil administration
in Baghdad from retired US Major-General Jay Garner. This is viewed as a US effort
to calm the population and to bring civil order in Iraq. (Radio Free Europe)
New Policy in Iraq
to Authorize GI's to Shoot Looters (May 14, 2003)
In an aggressive
approach to bring order in post-war Iraq, US soldiers have permission to shoot
looters on sight. According to a US official the soldiers "are going to start
shooting a few looters so that the word gets around" that "crimes will be dealt
with using deadly force." (New York Times)
Chalabi
Well Placed For Iraq Power Despite Controversies (May 14, 2003)
Ahmad Chalabi, the leader of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), remains controversial
for many Iraqis. The INC attempts to improve Chalabi's status by launching a campaign
to clear his past in Jordan where he is convicted in absentia for fraud and embezzlement.
(Agence France-Presse)
Iraqi
Leaders Voice Concerns on US Shuffle (May 13, 2003)
Possible
leaders in the interim government want the US to curve the ongoing anarchy and
chaos in Iraq. There are also concerns about Paul Bremer III who will serve as
a civil administrator in post-war Iraq. Bremer has a longtime association with
former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, whom the Kurds blame for their betrayal
in the intelligence wars between Iran and Iraq three decades ago. (New York
Times)
US Begins Shake-Up
of Postwar Iraq Team (May 12, 2003)
The US post-war team has
been harshly criticized by Iraqis for not doing enough to restore security and
improve the health situation. Only a month after Barbara Bodine arrival, she has
been ordered back by Washington. Bodine was in charge of Baghdad and the surrounding
area and some of her responsibilities included restoring public service. (International
Herald Tribune)
Liberation,
One Month On (May 9, 2003)
Phil Reeves reports from Baghdad;
a month after the regime fell the lawlessness continues and US forces exchange
fire with armed Iraqis almost on a daily basis across the country. (Independent)
Iraq's Special Envoy,
With a Special Task (May 8, 2003)
Information about L. Paul Bremer III who will serve as a civil administrator
of post-war Iraq. Bremer is a member of several corporate boards and
is known for advocating a very hard line against "extremist Islam."
(Asia Times)
A Sense Of Limbo In South
(May 6, 2003)
Saddam Hussein is not in power anymore but there
is no security and the fate of Iraqi people remains unknown. An engineering professor
at Basra University described the situation in Iraq as follows; "this is chaos,
not freedom." (Washington Post)
Opposition
Groups to Help to Create Assembly in Iraq (May 6, 2003)
The main
Iraqi opposition groups have agreed to meet in May to name an interim executive
council or prime minister to run the country. At the same time there is frustration
with the indecisiveness of General Garner's administration and with the debates
over whether to fully remove Saddam Hussein's Baath Party structure. (New York
Times)
Iraq Stabilisation
Force Takes Shape (May 6, 2003)
The US led coalition has plans
for a peacekeeping force in Iraq that divides the country into three sectors.
The US will run the central sector, including Baghdad, the UK the south and Poland
the north. (BBC)
US
Struggles in Quicksand of Iraq (May 5, 2003)
The fall of Saddam
Hussein has "opened a Pandora's box" according to Wamid Nadmi, professor at Baghdad
University. Citizens in Iraq are frustrated that efforts to begin reconstruction
and restore security are encountering great difficulties. (Los Angeles Times)
Iraq Leadership Expected
Soon; First Election Held (May 5, 2003)
The United States stated
that Iraq should have an interim national leadership in place by mid-May. In the
first election process since the fall of Saddam Hussein in the city of Mosul,
200 representatives cast their votes for a 24-member council at a meeting organized
by the United States military. (Reuters)
Deciding
Who Rebuilds Iraq Is Fraught With Infighting (May 4, 2003)
There
is friction between the departments of State and Defense about appointments to
run and rebuild Iraq. There has been some concession made by the State Department
but the control of the reconstruction agency remains with Pentagon officials and
handpicked former generals. (Washington Post)
US
Set to Name Civilian to Oversee Iraq (May 2, 2003)
Paul Bremer,
a former counterterrorism director in the Reagan administration, is to be appointed
civilian administrator of Iraq. This step is also viewed as an attempt by the
State Department to restrain the Pentagon, which has dominated the policy in Iraq.
(New York Times)
Gas
Station Explosion Hints of Disarray in Postwar Iraq (May 2, 2003)
There is a great shortage of gasoline in Iraq because the oil wells and refineries
are inactive. Chaotic scenes are taking place around gas stations; in a recent
accident a gas tank exploded and at least three people were killed during the
celebration of the resumption of electricity. (Cox News Service)
Bush
Officials Draft Broad Plan For Free-Market Economy in Iraq (May 1, 2003)
The Bush administration has drafted sweeping plans to remake Iraq's
economy in the US image, calling for the privatization of state-owned industries
(including parts of the oil sector), the formation of a stock market, and the
implementation of income and consumption taxes. (Wall Street Journal)
Shameful
Conquest (May 1-7, 2003)
The disagreements among Iraqi delegates
at a meeting convened by the US and UK to work towards an interim government,
combined with the continuing political demonstrations in the streets of Baghdad,
suggest that many questions remain about the political future of post-war Iraq.
(Al-Ahram Weekly)
The
Occupation Of Iraq (May-June, 2003)
In just three weeks, the
US invaded Iraq, brought down its regime and occupied the country. "Operation
Iraqi Liberation," more appropriately referred to as OIL, ended in a clear US
military success. However, the conflict came at an immense cost and create a huge
coalition of the unwilling including most of the world's states. (International
Socialist Review)
The
US and Post-War Iraq (May, 2003)
According to Stephen Zunes the
post-war situation in Iraq is very chaotic. The power vacuum has cleared the way
for social and political organizations to "mobilize quasi governmental institutions"
that might rebel against the occupiers. In addition, the war in Iraq has sparked
an increase in anti-US sentiment throughout the region. (Foreign Policy in
Focus)
Who Will Govern
Iraq? (April, 2003)
This text examines the four possible models
of administrations in Iraq; US Neoconservative, Afghan, Iraqi Exile, and the Minimalist
model. It asserts that the neoconservative model combined with elements from the
Afghan model is the most likely to be used. (Foreign Policy in Focus)
Three Weeks
On, Many in Baghdad Feel Angry, Hopeless (April 30, 2003)
Three weeks after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's government, many
parts of Baghdad still have no water or electricity, there are floods
of sewage in the streets, and only a trickle of urgently needed food
and medical supplies have made it into the country. Nevertheless,
the retired general overseeing Iraq's postwar reconstruction says
that Americans should be "beating our chests" with pride. (Reuters)
Privatization in Disguise
(April 28, 2003)
Naomi Klein argues that US plans for the reconstruction
of Iraq's infrastructure reflect the desire of Washington neoliberals to "design
their dream economy: fully privatized, foreign-owned and open for business." (The
Nation)
Iraq After
Saddam (April 27, 2003)
Religion can play a major role in post-war
Iraq. In the midst of all the unrest in the country, the only functioning social
system is that of the mosques and the only leaders with any credibility are the
prayer leaders. (Observer)
Short-Sighted
US Foreign Policy Spells Trouble Ahead (April 24, 2003)
Firas
Al-Atraqchi in Yellow Times lists mistakes made by the occupying powers
in Iraq ranging from only securing the oil ministry building to blaming Iran for
the Shiites' anger against the US.
Postmodern
Imperialism (April 24, 2003)
A good way to understand US policy
is to look at the era of European colonization. Today many problems are consequences
of the British colonial past in the Middle East. (Le Monde)
US
Tries to Curb Iranian Role in Iraq (April 23, 2003)
What might
take place in post-war Iraq is reflected by former Assistant Secretary of State
Martin Indyk, who stated, "we have to get rid of this naive notion that by turning
on the lights and fixing the hospitals we are going to be able to build a moderate,
representative government in Iraq. We're going to have to play the old imperial
game of divide and rule and the stakes could not be higher." (Reuters)
US Can Learn From Afghanistan
(April 23, 2003)
Christian Aid's emergency officer Dominic Nutt,
who spent time in Afghanistan, urges the US to immediately deal with the post-war
situation in Iraq or it will face similar problems to Afghanistan (Christian
Aid)
US Planners Surprised
by Strength of Iraqi Shiites (April 23, 2003)
Iraqi Shiite demonstrated
a show of strength during a pilgrimage in Karbala. The group demands a future
role in Iraq and they are more organized than the US anticipated. (Washington
Post)
Religion
and Politics Resurface As the New Voices of Iraqi Freedom (April 22,
2003)
Political parties that have not been allowed to operate legally for
decades are re-emerging across Iraq. They range from the Shias, one
of the main opponents of US occupation, to the liberal party. (Guardian)
Ba'athists
Slip Quietly Back Into Control (April 21, 2003)
Less than two
weeks after the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime, thousands of members of the
Ba'ath party are resuming their positions in Iraq. Policemen, members of the information
ministry, and bureaucrats at the oil ministry have all found roles under the US
occupation. (Guardian)
US
Overseer Arrives in Baghdad To Begin Interim Government (April 21, 2003)
General Jay Garner, set to lead an interim administration in Iraq, arrives
in Baghdad. The General states that he is a "facilitator not a ruler", but opposition
is growing to the invading forces taking a leading role in Iraq's reconstruction.
(Reuters)
Baghdad's
Mayor - a Sign of Things to Come (April 21, 2003)
US will have
difficulty forming a stable pro-Washington Iraqi regime. For example Mohsen al-Zubaidi,
an Iraqi dissident who lived in Iran, has been chosen as the head of the provisional
administration of Baghdad. (Asia Times)
US
Army Was Told to Protect Looted Museum (April 20, 2003)
A memo
sent to the US army last month by the US Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian
Assistance warned that Iraq's national museum was "a prime target for looters"
and should be protected. Despite the warning, the army failed to post soldiers
outside the museum, and it was ransacked, with more than 270,000 artefacts taken.
(Observer)
Grab-Bag
of Iraqi Goodies? (April 17-23, 2003)
According to Gamal Nkrumah,
a "dumbfounded and divided Europe" is waiting to see if the US will permit it
to play a role in determining the future of post-war Iraq. (Al-Ahram Weekly)
US
Floods Iraq With Dollars (April 17, 2003)
The US Federal Reserve
airlifted millions of US dollars into Iraq to begin paying Iraqi civil servants
in dollars, while denying allegations that it plans to dollarize the economy.
The sudden influx of dollars may weaken confidence in the dinar, and will likely
prove to be a politically sensitive issue. (BBC)
Responsibilities of the Occupying Powers (April 16, 2003)
This report, by Amnesty International, focuses on the responsibilities
of the US and the UK, as occupying powers, to protect the fundamental rights of
the Iraqi population. It outlines the international legal framework and makes
specific recommendations.
US
Forces Will Redeploy Into 3 Zones (April 16, 2003)
The US and British
military are entering into a post-war phase of enforcing security and restoring
services around the country. They plan to divide the country into three zones
with army Lt. Gen. Jay M. Garner overseeing reconstruction and humanitarian efforts.
(Washington Post)
Iraqis
Divided As Talks Open (April 16, 2003)
Iraqi factions held US-sponsored
talks on the country's future. But representatives for the Shiite Muslims were
not present because they oppose plans to install the retired Lieutenant General
Jay Garner to run an interim administration in Iraq. (International Herald
Tribune)
How and Why
the US Encouraged Looting in Iraq (April 15, 2003)
Pillage in Iraq
may have been more than a disorganized and spontaneous reaction by Iraqis to their
new "liberty." Many accuse the US of having deliberately allowed the widespread
plunder of Iraqi cities, buttressed by the fact that only oilfields and the Oil
Ministry were protected. (World Socialist Web Site)
Financial
Scandal Claims Hang Over Leader In Waiting (April 14, 2003)
Ahmad Chalabi, the Pentagon's favorite to take over the rule of Iraq, was sentenced
to 22 years of prison in Jordan for 31 charges of fraud, embezzlement, and other
charges. Chalabi's Jordan-based Petra Bank reportedly funneled millions of dollars
into Chalabi-family accounts in London, Lebanon, and Switzerland, leaving poverty-stricken
Jordan to reimburse $200 million to depositors. (Guardian)
Religion-Based
Work Fills Vacuum in Baghdad (April 14, 2003)
With the power-vacuum
and the looting in Baghdad, members of religious communities are trying to restore
order themselves by organizing neighborhood security patrols. Some religious leaders
envision Iraq as an Islamic state, which may run counter to US administrative
plans for the country. (Boston Globe)
US Push to Forgive Iraq Debt Underway (April 12, 2003)
US Treasury Secretary John Snow is urging France, Germany and Russia to cancel
at least part of Iraq's billions of dollars in debt, which experts say Iraq cannot
possibly pay in full. Debt relief advocates support the move, but blast Washington
for hypocritically opposing the forgiveness of other impoverished countries' debt
burdens. (Washington Post)
Fears
for the Future (April 11, 2003)
The assassination of Abdul Majid
al-Khoei, a US-backed Shia cleric, soon after his return from exile in London
is symptomatic of the growing uncertainly about the political future in Iraq,
according to Brian Whitaker of the Guardian.
Under
New Management: Garner Plan Will Divide the Country Into Three Zones (April 10,
2003)
Iraq will be divided intro three zones by the interim civil
administration headed by retired US general Jay Garner. The General will have
the difficult mission to avoid giving the appearance of taking over the country.
(Independent)
Woolsey's
Role Crucial to Impact of Occupation (April 8, 2003)
Former CIA
director James Woolsey pushed for the war on Iraq, convinced that Washington has
a mission to use its military power to transform the Arab world. "If he soon pops
up in Baghdad, you can bet that the ‘clash of civilizations' is imminent," says
Foreign Policy in Focus.
Three
Stages to a New Iraq (April 8, 2003)
There are three stages that
can be implemented for post-war Iraq; military rule, Interim Iraqi Administration
and the representative government elected by the Iraqi people. (BBC)
Long-Exiled
Chalabi Gets His Chance (April 8, 2003)
Ahmad Chalabi, leader
of the Iraqi National Congress, has some support from Washington for a leading
role in post-war Iraq. But according to a recent CIA report on the aftermath of
war, an overwhelming numbers of Iraqis are very skeptical of Chalabi and the INC.
(Los Angeles Times)
British
Set Up First Post-War Government (April 8, 2003)
In the southern
city of Basra, British forces put a local sheik in power who will be responsible
for setting up an administrative committee representing other groups in the region.
(Associated Press)
No
Representative Government in Future Iraq (April 7, 2003)
There
are fears the new government in Iraq will be headed by Ahmed Chalabi. The government
will be a puppet regime and Chalabi will be the middleman for US and UK strategic
oil interests in the region. (Yellow Times)
Rule
by Allies May Pass 6 Months, Wolfowitz Asserts (April 7, 2003)
US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz states that it will take the US
more than six months to establish an Iraqi government to run the country after
President Saddam Hussein's regime has been defeated. (New York Times)
US
Begins the Process of Regime Change (April 6, 2003)
Part of an
interim government can be installed even as fighting still rages in Baghdad. The
government will be part of Pentagon's plan, rebuffing Europeans calls for a greater
UN role.(Observer)
US
Draws Up Secret Plan to Impose Regime on Iraq (April 1, 2003)
The plan for a new government in Iraq will consist of 23 ministers headed by the
US. Iraqi exiles, who have little support from their people, will also fill key
advisory positions. (Guardian)
US
Arms Trader to Run Iraq (March 30, 2003)
Jay Garner, the retired
US general who will oversee humanitarian relief and reconstruction in Iraq, is
also the president of SY Coleman, a company that provides crucial technical support
in the manufacture of the Patriot missile system. Garner's background is causing
serious concerns at the UN and among international aid agencies. (Observer)
Man Who Would
Be "King" of Iraq (March 30, 2003)
Oliver Morgan of the Observer
profiles Jay Garner, the former US general who will head the Pentagon's Office
for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance in Iraq. Some aid agencies are
worried about Garner's connections to prominent hawks in the Bush administration
and to arms manufacturers.
Britain
and US at Odds Over Port Rebuilding Project (March 28, 2003)
Tensions
are rising amongst British companies over rebuilding post-war Iraq because their
US counterparts appear to be getting preferential treatment in receiving contracts.
(Independent)
Prince
of Darkness: Deals in the Shadows (March 29, 2003)
Jason Leopold
examines the various controversies surrounding Richard Perle, who resigned as
chairman of the Defense Policy Board after disclosures about conflicts of interest
in his business dealings. Perle had resigned from a previous post as assistant
secretary of state in April 1987 amid complaints of conflicts of interest. (Asia
Times)
Unfinished
Business (March 28, 2003)
Richard Perle's resignation as chairman
of the Defense Policy Board raises questions about US economic involvement in
postwar Iraq. According to a report by the Center for Public Integrity, at least
10 of the 30 members of the Defense Policy Board are executives or lobbyists with
companies who have contracts with the US Defense Department and other government
agencies. (Guardian)
The
Day After In Iraq: Lessons From Afghanistan (March, 2003)
Decades
of foreign intervention and war decimated Afghanistan's capacity to maintain a
viable state, and the international community's post 9-11 nation-building efforts
have proven insufficient. Now, a US-led war on Iraq may plunge the country into
chaos and ethnic warfare, and post-war reconstruction plans remain unclear. (Foreign
Policy in Focus)
Democracy
Domino Theory 'Not Credible' (March 14, 2003)
According to a
classified US State Department report, installing a new regime in Iraq is very
unlikely to foster the spread of democracy in the Middle East. (Los Angeles
Times)
EU Warns on
Postwar Iraq Funds (March 13, 2003)
Chris Patten, the EU commission
for external relations, stated that if the US attacks Iraq without Security Council
approval the EU might withhold money for the reconstruction. (International
Herald Tribune)
Pax
Americana: The Building of Empire (March 10, 2003)
History repeats
itself in Iraq, but this time, the last stand is between "efforts to create an
American Empire and the will of the rest of the world." (Yellow Times)
Hussein's Successor Might Be the US (February 28, 2003)
Washington has two different plans on Iraq: one is a "go-it-alone" strategy,
and the other is to share the burden of rebuilding Iraq with a political transition
plan similar to those used in Kosovo and East Timor. (Los Angeles Times)
For Bush, Saddam is Already
in Past Tense (February 28, 2003)
Many of President George W.
Bush's statements focus on post war Iraq and not the war itself. It is part of
the White House's strategy to refer to Saddam Hussein in the past tense and emphasize
Bush's vision of a "Saddam-free world." (International Herald Tribune)
Full US Control Planned
for Iraq (February 21, 2003)
US plans for unilateral control
of Iraq include a prisoner of war camp with opposition members serving as guards
and an American directing the "creation of a ‘representative' Iraqi government."
(Washington Post)
Breaking
Faith (February 20, 2003)
Al-Ahram Weekly reports that
members of the Iraqi opposition of all political persuasions have expressed vehement
objections to US plans for a post-war Iraq.
Future of Post-war Iraq Divides Bush Administration (February 18,
2003)
Post Gulf War plans has received criticism some US government
have criticized post-war plans, saying that the US must not only remove Saddam
Hussein but also other members of his regime. The officials want to see a transnational
administration with the participation of the INC (Iraqi National Congress). (
Foreign Policy in Focus)
Our
Hopes Betrayed (February 16, 2003)
This statement in Observer
by Kanan Makiya, the leading intellectual of the Iraqi National Congress, slams
US plans for a post-war military government. The White House considered his statement
to be "counter-productive."
The Iraq Bush Will
Build (February 9, 2003)
President George W. Bush and his administration
are drafting a three phase plan to establish a new regime after the war with Iraq.
In the scheme, the final phase includes a "handover to a regime sympathetic to
and nurtured by Washington." ( Observer)
US Chooses Saddam's Successor (February 4, 2003)
According to Mohamed al-Jabiri, a former Iraqi diplomat, the United States has
chosen Ahmed Chalabi, the head of the Iraqi National Congress, as the successor
to Saddam Hussein. ( Sydney Morning Herald )
A Time to Break Silence: US Complicity in Saddam's Crimes Against
Humanity (February 2, 2003)
US companies' previous weapons exports
to Saddam Hussein's regime reveals that "war crimes in the Third World are acceptable
so long as they fit within US global strategy and aims." (In Motion Magazine)
Specter of Lebanon Haunts
Iraq Occupation Plans (January 31, 2003)
Does History repeat
itself? Foreign Policy in Focus compares a possible post-Saddam US occupation
of Iraq with the 1982 invasion of Beirut by Israel. What happened in Lebanon may
well augur what could happen in Iraq.
US Is Completing Plan to Promote a Democratic Iraq (January 6, 2003)
As the war drums grow louder, the Bush administration is devising
a complex plan to occupy a post-war Iraq and impose a military occupation government
in the name of "democracy." Plans include the immediate seizure of Iraqi oil fields.
Administration officials say US occupation of Iraq will last "at least" 18 months.
(New York Times)
