Sponsored Links

[Jobius]

In January, 2005, 8.4 million Iraqis voted for an assembly to draft a constitution. In October, 9.8 million voted in the election that ratified that constitution. In December, over 12 million voted in the first parliamentary elections held under the new constitution. Nearly six months of politicking later, Iraq almost has a government. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has yet to present his choices for the important Interior and Defense ministries.

Is the new government of Iraq an American puppet regime? Vladimir has said so, early, and often. A lot of other folks here agree, including CruisingRam, TedN5, and Victoria Silverwolf. On the other hand, Middle East expert Juan Cole confidently tells us that the new Iraqi government is an Iranian puppet. He's been saying this for quite a while, as well. Iran and the U.S. aren't exactly allies. They can't both be masters of the same puppet.

Is the Iraqi government a puppet regime?

If so, who controls the puppet?

Edit: typos.

This post has been edited by Jobius: Jun 3 2006, 04:43 AM

[TedN5]

(Jobius)
Is the new government of Iraq an American puppet regime? Vladimir has said so, early, and often. A lot of other folks here agree, including CruisingRam, TedN5, and Victoria Silverwolf. On the other hand, Middle East expert Juan Cole confidently tells us that the new Iraqi government is an Iranian puppet.

If you're going to characterize what I post, I wish you would do so accurately. You used the following snippet to misconstrue my position.

(TedN5)
Of course this group of undemocratic ideologues plan to stay in Iraq. They thought they could do it with a puppet government and now plan to do it with permanent bases and will not permit the formation of an Iraqi government that will demand their removal.

This comment was made in an entirely different context and was referring to the US government's attempt to first install Ahmad Chalibi as the leader of Iraq, then to deny early elections and rule by fiat under Paul Bremmer, and then to try to install the former CIA asset, Alawi, in as leader of "democratic" Iraq. The US only agreed to hold Iraqi elections at all because of massive Shia demonstrations inspired by the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. I have never referred to the elected government as a "puppet" although it has been heavily manipulated by US pressure. What would you call the day to day involvement of the American ambassador in the rejection of one Prime Minister and the selection of an alternative.

To indicate that I somehow have a contradictory opinion to that of Juan Cole is also false. (You also mis-charactized his position, which is that Iran has lots of influence with several of the main Iraqi Shia parties but not that the government is an Iranian puppet). I have followed Juan Cole's blog since before the invasion. (He is another one of those people that has been an inconvenience to "true believer" by being right in advance of events). In most cases I have agreed with him but didn't share his position on maintaining American forces in Iraq because the alternatives were worse.

I did agree with Cole about the outcome of the last election being a disaster with Iran the main winner because the electorate voted almost entirely sectarian lines and Shia parties nearly won total control of the legislative assembly.

No, Iraq is no puppet. It may ultimately be a state closely allied with Iran, a failed state, or 3 separate states. All of these would be a threat to regional stability. None of these possiblilities is in our interest and certainly none is worth the lives killed and maimed nor the treasure expended to say nothing of the Iraqi dead, wounded, and malnourished.

This post has been edited by TedN5: Jun 4 2006, 12:43 AM

[Jobius]

If you're going to characterize what I post, I wish you would do so accurately.

I apologize for mischaracterizing your position, TedN5. I didn't mean to, but I misread and therefore misstated your position and Victoria Silverwolf's. Sorry.