Saturday, October 11, 2003

Islamic ministers ask for US withdrawl.. Posted here Saturday, October 11, 2003 at 10:09:07 AM     meeting of the Islamic ministers in Malaysia.. The group was split until recently over whether the Iraqi Governing Council should assume the seat held by Saddam Hussein's ousted government. But delegates said Saturday a resolution would be adopted welcoming the council. Musa Braiza, head of the Jordanian delegation, said the resolution would acknowledge that positive change was underway in Iraq but would emphasize the full restoration of Iraqi sovereignty. Abdelouahed Belkaziz, the OIC's secretary general, said Islamic nations "are still under the strain of extremely difficult challenges and unprecedented threats to our countries' independence, sovereignty, security and courses." Top priority should go to "the eviction of foreign forces from Iraq, allowing the United Nations to administer Iraqi affairs (as a) prelude to restoration of Iraq's independence, and to the rebuilding of what has been destroyed over the past 20 years, all in accordance with a clear and short timetable," he said.   ********

Cheney Lashes Out at Critics of Policy on Iraq NYT Posted here Saturday, October 11, 2003 at 8:24:46 AM     By ERIC SCHMITT Published: October 11, 2003 ASHINGTON, Oct. 10 — Vice President Dick Cheney lashed out on Friday at critics of the Bush administration's Iraq policy, ridiculing their arguments against the war as naïve and dangerous in a speech that was a culmination of a campaign by the White House to regain support for the postwar effort. Comment: as things get tense, the administration will get more tense. The problem created by the administration is to have defined the war against terror as the defining aspect of the regime, with the exception of tax shifts in favor of the rich, which may be the main agenda. The problem this leaves for the rest of us is, should the US withdraw from Iraq? If not, what? I think the turn to the UN with massive US support for a policy the UN/NATO control, is the best, providing it would be combined with an approach towards fairness in agriculture and other trade issues, and shift American rhetoric towards international cooperation and social welfare beyond trickle down economics. The progressive side in the US is weakened by being divided between corporate tech economic market desires and fairness and pace desires. Lots to sort out. If the really good alternative is not achievable, then we have to face the fact that the us really faces the choice between pulling back, letting Iraq become an Islamic republic, and realizing that this weakness will lead to increasing anti-US sentiment and hard edged Islamic revival. As Spengler and others have pointed out, a late empire acting weak attracts responses from within and without, and the natural course is to move towards a Caesar who imposes peace inside and out, at very high cost. American Innocence is lost. What now? Being anti Bush is not enough to come to a coherent posture towrds the world, our own economy, and civil rights and responsibilities. the right as created a weak but workable alliance between corporatism and small town america. the progressive side ixxes the urban market culture and a desire for peace and civil liberties in a weaker combination. One can expect that the rural/corporate axis to hold, though I think tis trend hurts the economy deeply, and creates too much violene and resentment to work. All theplayers can be expected to fudge the issues. ********