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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
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 Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:45 am U.S. Makes Early Handover of Iraq |
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U.S. Makes Early Handover of Iraq
Monday, June 28, 2004
BAGHDAD, Iraq � Iraq became a sovereign country on Monday, 15 months after the United States led a coalition to oust Saddam Hussein from power and two days before the June 30 deadline for control to be turned over to the interim Iraqi government.
"This is a historical day," Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (search) said. "We feel we are capable of controlling the security situation."
Added Iraqi President Ghazi Al-Yawer: "This is a day we are going to take our country back into the international forum. We'd like to express our thanks to the coalition," Al-Yawer continued. "There is no way to turn back now."
Both President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair were informed of the decision on Sunday while in Turkey for a NATO (search) summit.
"This is a day of great hope for Iraqis and a day that terrorist enemies hoped never to see," Bush later said in an address with Blair. "The terrorists are doing all they can to stop the rise of a free Iraq but their bombs and attacks have not prevented Iraqi sovereignty and they will not prevent Iraqi democracy.
"Iraqi sovereignty is a tribute to the will of Iraqi people and the courage of Iraqi leaders."
In a swearing-in ceremony in Baghdad, the coalition officially transferred power to the new Iraqi government.
"Iraq will be for all the Iraqis, regardless of religion and ethnicity. All will enjoy full citizenship, a country that enjoys justice," Allawi said.
The Iraqi official also had some stern words for the guerrillas attacking the coalition and Iraqis, calling them "enemies of Islam, enemies of the people of Iraq � those who align themselves with infidels."
"Infidels shouldn't frighten us," Allawi continued, adding that the Iraqi people need to stand up to the terrorists. "God is with us," he added.
"I warn the forces of terror once again," he continued. "We will not forget who stood with us and against us in this crisis."
Bush: 'We Kept Our Word'
Saying the turnover is "proud, moral achievement" for the U.S.-led coalition, Bush said, "we pledged to end a dangerous regime to free the oppressed and restore sovereignty � we have kept our word."
Saying foreign terrorists and former regime loyalists will not halt progress in Iraq, the president said "the struggle is first and foremost an Iraqi struggle."
But "the civilized world will not be frightened or intimated and Iraq's new leaders have made their position clear."
Bush marked the transfer with a whispered comment and a handshake with Blair, his closest ally in the war, as they gathered with world leaders.
Stealing a glance at his watch to make sure the transfer had occurred, Bush put his hand over his mouth to guard his remarks, leaned toward Blair and then reached out to shake hands. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, a row behind the president, beamed.
Blair, in the later address with Bush, said "the battle for Iraq and it's future, if you'd like, is in a genuine sense, the frontline in the battle against terrorism and the new security threats that we face."
"The strategy of these terrorists is to try and prevent Iraq from becoming a symbol of hope not just for the Iraqi people but actually for the region of the wider world," the prime minister said.
Bush had already sent an official letter to Allawi formally requesting diplomatic relations with the sovereign government of Iraq, officials told FOX News.
The surprise transfer of power occurred in a small ceremony in Baghdad's Green Zone (search) with little fanfare.
L. Paul Bremer, who has overseen the Coalition Provisional Authority (search) since the fall of Saddam, signed the legal papers in the presence of Allawi and presented them to the chief justice of Iraq, Midhat al-Mahmoud. About a half dozen Iraqi and coalition officials were also in attendance.
"You have said, and we agreed, that you are ready for sovereignty," Bremer said. "I will leave Iraq confident in its future."
Bremer left Iraq a few hours later. His last moments in Iraq were spent in a meeting with Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top American commander in the country. An aide to Bremer said only, "he was going home."
His departure following the transfer of power leaves John Negroponte, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, the top American representative in the country.
The new Iraqi ministers were to be sworn in later in the day.
The response in Baghdad was mixed.
"Iraqis are happy inside, but their happiness is marred by fear and melancholy," said artist Qassim al-Sabti. "Of course I feel I'm still occupied. You can't find anywhere in the world people who would accept occupation. America these days, is like death. Nobody can escape from it."
Many observers agreed that challenges lie ahead that will test the will and resilience of the new government.
"The main question I have is how much authority are we going to have to take the military measures necessary to help the new Iraqi government," former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger told Fox News after the handover.
But "I think it was very smart to do it today because obviously the 30th will be a big target for all the militants and all the opposition," he added. "It's a big step today � it removed one big target from the terrorists � now we'll see just how well the Iraqis can govern themselves. I think they can do it � it's just gonna take a little time."
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger told Fox News that it "remains to be seen" just how good a day Monday's ceremonial turnover will be.
"It will depend on the degree which the government can establish its authority and the degree to which it gets foreign support," Kissinger said. "The test will be whether they can maintain themselves as a sovereign power."
In other developments, Saddam will be turned over to the Iraqis and indicted this week, FOX News has learned. Saddam will appear before an Iraqi judge to be handed a formal indictment, a top Iraqi official said.
NATO Offers A Helping Hand
NATO alliance leaders have offered to train security forces in Iraq in response to Allawi's request.
"We, the 26 heads of state and government of the nations of the Atlantic Alliance, meeting in Istanbul, declare our full support for the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq and for strengthening of freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law and security for all the Iraqi people," said a NATO statement issued Monday.
Blair later told FOX News: "After this moment, in respect to security, Iraqis will be in charge. We can support and we can help with things like [troop] training, but it's important that they are a sovereign power."
Although the interim government will have full sovereignty, it will operate under major restrictions � some of them imposed at the urging of the influential Shiite clergy that sought to limit the powers of an unelected administration.
For example, the interim government will only hold power seven months until, as directed by a U.N. Security Council (search) resolution, there must be elections "in no case later than" Jan. 31. The Americans will still hold responsibility for security.
The interim government will not be able to amend the interim constitution.
Bremer had issued more than 100 orders and regulations, many of them Western-style laws governing everything from bankruptcy and traffic, to restrictions on child labor and copying movies. The laws remain in effect after the occupation ends unless rescinded or revised by the interim government.
The Hope for Security
U.S. officials hope that Iraqis will believe that they are now in control of their country and that will take the steam out of the insurgency.
"Allawi said we are ready to take this all over ... it is part of our security strategy ... to have Iraqi officials be held accountable by Iraqis," said the senior administration official in Turkey.
Just before the handover occurred, everyone stood up, and documents were passed to the chief justice at 10:26 a.m. local time � at that point, legal sovereignty was passed.
Members of Allawi's Cabinet each stepped forward to place their right hand on the Quran and pledged to accept their new duties with sincerity and impartiality. Behind them, a bank of Iraqi flags lined the podium.
"Before us is a challenge and a burden and we ask God almighty to give us the patience and guide us to take this country whose people deserves all goodness," Al-Yawer said after taking his oath. "May God protect Iraq and its citizens."
FOX News' Greg Palkot, Liza Porteus, Jane Roh and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Mon Jun 28, 2004 10:47 am |
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That was a VERY smart move by the Bush administration. Let's hope it goes well from here.
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Toad
Chief of Security
Joined: 28 Aug 2003
Posts: 936
Location: The Great Plains
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| Mon Jun 28, 2004 12:40 pm |
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I saw that on the news this morning.
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:50 pm |
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Me, too. When my alarm went off this morning, *GAH!* the first thing was about "Today's Top Headline", so I turned on FoxNews and CNN.
-------signature-------
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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Oliver
Thought Maker
Joined: 28 Feb 2004
Posts: 6096
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
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| Tue Jun 29, 2004 12:44 pm |
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| JanewayIsHott wrote: | | That was a VERY smart move by the Bush administration. Let's hope it goes well from here. |
Why do you think it's a smart move? To me, it seems like the Bush administration wanted to evade the media.
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Leo Wyatt
Sweetest Angel
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 19045
Location: Investigating A Crime Scene. What did Quark do this time?
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| Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:20 pm |
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No, I disagree. I think it is a smart move too.
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Tue Jun 29, 2004 2:10 pm |
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| Oliver wrote: | | JanewayIsHott wrote: | | That was a VERY smart move by the Bush administration. Let's hope it goes well from here. |
Why do you think it's a smart move? To me, it seems like the Bush administration wanted to evade the media. |
Well, basically, I am sure some terrorists somewhere were planning an attack for the handover. When they move it a day foward.....well, no one was expecting that.
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WeAz
Commodore
Joined: 03 Apr 2004
Posts: 1519
Location: Where you aren't
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| Tue Jun 29, 2004 2:55 pm |
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by doing this they are showing the Iraquis that they are ready to take on these challanges. we just got a new friend in the middle east 
-------signature-------
At Least In Vietnam, Bush Had An Exit Strategy
It was Bush, not Clinton, who ignored the warning signs for 9/11.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:09 am |
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See, this is great! To the Liberals who said that it would never happen, what do you say to that?
And about the oil accusations, they are TOTALLY invalid now.
This was not a move of Bush so much as the Iraqi leadership that did this surprise move.
And now we will stand by Iraq through it's recovery.
I was happy when I saw this news!
Now what, Libs? Now, What?
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"Rights are only as good as the willingness of some to exercise responsibility for those rights- Fmr. Colorado Senate Pres. John Andrews
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