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Shiites have Alternative Plans AFP reports that the Shiites say they have alternative plans for elections if direct elections are declared impossible by the United Nations. They say they will not reveal them at the moment. Some Shiites warned of violence if the community is too deeply disappointed by the UN or US way of […]

The Dangers of Economic Shock Therapy in Iraq Nobel Laureate, economist Joseph Stiglitz, sagely warns against Bush administration plans for economic “shock therapy” (rapid and radical liberalization and privatization) in Iraq. He points out that successful transition to democracy has often been actively hindrered by such an approach. Proponents of shock therabpy in the Coalition […]

Zarqawi Letter and Fear of Democracy Matthew Yglesias asks at his thoughtful blog: “Something a bit curious in the (purported) Zarqawi letter: [I]f we fight them [Sunni Arab policemen working for the new Iraqi government, I think, the context isn’t 100% clear to me], that will be difficult because there will be a schism between […]

Fallujah: Phase II, Guerrilla War? Reuters reports on the impressive coordinated tactical strike by guerrillas at Fallujah on Saturday. Some forty masked, armed men were involved, and the attack was brazenly launched in broad daylight. Late reports put the number of dead at at least 27, with dozens wounded. The London daily al-Hayat reports that […]

Arab, Kurdish Chieftains Visit Sistani Jalal Talabani, the Kurdish leader, met with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani on Saturday, and emerged to say he was confident that the Coalition Provisional Authority would turn over sovereignty to an Iraqi government by July 1. Speaking of Sistani, I received by email a fascinating account by a participant of […]

Bush and Service in the Texas Air National Guard I have not said anything about the controversy concerning George W. Bush’s service in the Texas Air National Guard. The controversies have mainly centered on whether he lied about some minor arrests (one for a prank involving stealing a wreath at Yale) or tickets when he […]

“Zarqawi” Letter I have had a chance to examine the letter the Coalition forces say they found on a Compact Disk on the person of al-Qaeda courier Hasan Ghul. The fax of the letter that I received, unlike the version published in the Arabic newspapers has “from” after the invocation of God, and three ellipses […]

Sistani considers the Meeting with the UN Envoy a Success az-Zaman reported today that informed sources affirmed that Lakhdar Brahimi’s report for the United Nations will include a consensus about the importance of holding (direct) elections, and the specification of a new deadline for doing so after the surrender of sovereignty to the Iraqis. This […]

Ibrahimi, UN, see consensus on Direct Elections UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani on Thursday. On emerging from the meeting in Najaf, he said he agreed on the need to hold (direct) elections, but he asked for “careful preparations” to be made for them. Ash-Sharq al-Awsat noted that Brahimi’s statement came […]