The American Empire unfolds

[ciphergoth]

from jwz

The US is abandoning plans to introduce democracy in Iraq after a war to overthrow Saddam Hussein, according to Kurdish leaders who recently met American officials. The Kurds say the decision resulted from pressure from US allies in the Middle East who fear a war will lead to radical political change in the region. The Kurdish leaders are enraged by an American plan to occupy Iraq but largely retain the government in Baghdad. The only changes would be the replacement of President Saddam and his lieutenants with senior US military officers. [...]

-- The Independent, 17 February 2003 (this LJ comment makes a strong counter-case though)

If true, this provides evidence that the basis of Bush's strategy is a 2000 document by deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz and other Bush administration luminaries arguing that "The United States will require bases and stations within and beyond Western Europe and Northeast Asia"

Comments

[mrph.livejournal.com]

It's a fair point that both UK and US oficials have been very careful not to get drawn on the subject of post-Saddam democracy. To the point where one government minister, on Question Time a month or two back, was visibly squirming.

This makes me just a little bit suspicious. I know some people cite the "Iraq Liberation Act 1998" as evidence of the US's commitment, but I've not heard any of the Bush Administration mention that either, so...

But then I'm a cynical git.