Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Rumsfeld warns Iraqi regime not to purge US allies (The Independent)

Ci sarebbe da ridere se non ci fosse da piangere...
Am.
Rumsfeld warns Iraqi regime not to purge US allies
By Patrick Cockburn in Kirkuk
13 April 2005
 The US has warned against a purge of its allies in the defence and 
interior ministries - crucial to real power in Iraq - by incoming Shia 
ministers.
Donald Rumsfeld, the US Defence Secretary, issued a coded warning 
against the removal of officials from the security ministries which lead 
the fight against insurgency.
"It's important that the new government be attentive to the competence 
of the people in the ministries, and that they avoid unnecessary 
turbulence," he said on his ninth visit to Iraq since the invasion.
The US is increasingly isolated in Iraq, with the announcement yesterday 
that 1,700 Polish troops in Iraq would leave at the beginning of next 
year. Poland has been among America's staunchest allies.
The Shia parties, who won a majority in the parliamentary election on 30 
January, are pressing for control of the interior ministry in the new 
government. They also want to take charge of the the intelligence 
agency. The defence ministry will probably go to a Sunni Arab.
"The Americans have remained largely in control of intelligence, 
interior and defence despite the handover of power to Iraqis in June 
last year," an official said.
Under the interim government of Iyad Allawi, former Baathist 
intelligence officers, often Sunnis, were recruited to the security 
ministries. The Shia United Iraqi Alliance, with more than 140 out of 
275 seats in the new assembly, would like to purge them. Mr Rumsfeld 
suggested that a purge might lead to more corruption in the Iraqi 
government, although Mr Allawi's administration was notorious for taking 
bribes and for allegedly taking a percentage on all contracts.
More understandably Mr Rumsfeld warned against delays in the political 
process - it is two months since theelection results were announced - 
and said parliament should seek to draw a constitution by 15 August.
After meeting Mr Rumsfeld, the Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari 
played down the problems ahead. "I am sure we are going to form very 
good ministries. All of [the ministers] are good technocrats. They are 
very effective and from good backgrounds." If Mr Jaafari fails to form a 
government, Ahmed Chalabi, a leading member of the Shia bloc, is likely 
to step in and be asked to try again. Though distrusted by many, no one 
doubts Mr Chalabi's political agility. As an ally of the American 
neoconservatives, he played a central role in fomenting the war to 
overthrow Saddam Hussein. He later fell out with the neoconservatives 
and was denounced for allegedly passing information to the Iranians, 
with whom he has good relations. He is also close to Muqtada al-Sadr, 
the radical Shia cleric.
The failure to form a government stems in part from differences between 
the Kurds and the Shia, the two main groups in parliament. The Shia list 
is also very divided, containing some 15 groups all hungry for jobs. 
Even in an administration with 31 ministers there may not be enough to 
go round. The Kurds also want to see Mr Allawi and his supporters in the 
new government.
Ironically, Mr Rumsfeld's concern over a purge of Sunni officers is in 
contrast with the speed with which the Pentagon disbanded the Iraqi army 
and security forces in May 2003. This was the single most important 
development fuelling the insurgency which exploded in Sunni areas in the 
following months. Just how dangerous Iraq is for foreigners was 
underlined yesterday when an US contractor was kidnapped.
Differences over jobs continue to fuel ethnic and religious animosities 
at all levels of society. In the oil city of Kirkuk, the Kurds, once 
persecuted and now in control, are eager to reverse that discrimination.
Nagat Hassan, a Kurdistan Democratic Party leader in Kirkuk, said: 
"There are only 300 Kurds out of 11,000 oil workers here. The majority 
come from the centre of Iraq." He said there were Kurds qualified to do 
many of the jobs.
The purge of low-level members of the Baath party in the mainly Sunni 
Hawaija region of western Kirkuk led to schools closing because so many 
Baathist teachers were fired. In one case students threatened to burn 
down their school unless their Baathist headmaster was reinstated.
  
13 April 2005 09:04
 

 By Patrick Cockburn in Kirkuk
La voce del Padrone...
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and for allegedly taking a percentage on all contracts.
Puttanata della quale non fornisce alcuna prova :)
-Stefano

 -Stefano
 Non risulta che tu abbia la credibilita' dell'Independent.
E nemmeno quella della Gazzetta di Zagarolo.
Apri la bocca, e gli dai fiato, chiaccherone.
Am.

Apri la bocca, e gli dai fiato, chiaccherone.
...disse il bue all'asino... :)
*LOL*
-Stefano

 -Stefano
Sbagli. Il problema non e' la credibilita' dell'Independent, ma la tua.
Am.

Il problema non e' la credibilita' dell'Independent,
E se lo dici tu... :)
*LOL*
-Stefano