13. juli 2003

Iraq takes first step towards democracy The new Iraqi Governing Council had its inaugural meeting today Sunday in Baghdad, proclaimed as a historic step towards a democratic rule. The council reflects Iraq's ethnic composition, with 13 Shiites, 5 Sunni, 5 Kurds, one Christian and one Turkmen. "The launch of the governing council will mean that Iraqis play a more central role in running their country," U.S. administrator Paul Bremer said in a statement Saturday night. "The formation of the governing council will also mark the start of the process leading to full, free and fair democratic elections in Iraq." Bremer said the council would bring together for the first time in Iraq's history "a balanced representative group of political leaders from across this country." "I look forward to the council taking decisions on the basis of what is right for all Iraqis," he said. Bremer still has the last word in Iraq and can override the council's decisions, but says he will only reluctantly do so. 1:05:09 PM    comment []

Violent and "racist" super-stud fired A four year old stud who had the pleasant job of "taking care of" 28 mares were being aggressive and violent to the red-coloured mares, and later all of them, which forced the owner to fire him. His job is now taken over by a lucky 18-year old stud who hopefully knows how to treat a lady. 4:42:28 AM    comment []

— Documents show link between Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden Federal appellate Judge Gilbert S. Merritt is in Iraq with a group sent by the US Justice Department to help rebuild the country's judicial system. While in the country, he has been given access to documents showing the inner workings of Saddam Hussein's regime. He writes that one of the documents demonstrates a link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda, a relationship that has yet to be demonstrated by the US government. He writes: The document shows that an Iraqi intelligence officer, Abid Al-Karim Muhamed Aswod, assigned to the Iraq embassy in Pakistan, is ''responsible for the coordination of activities with the Osama bin Laden group.'' The document shows that it was written over the signature of Uday Saddam Hussein, the son of Saddam Hussein. Somehow this has gone under the radar of most news sources. 1:17:06 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.08.2003; 01:51:48.