Opposition sees betrayal in postwar plan

IRBIL, Iraq — From the most radical communist to the most pro-American figures, Iraqi opposition members gathering here to discuss the country's future expressed deep reservations yesterday about reported U.S. plans for an Iraq after the potential ouster of Saddam Hussein.

Criticism of a proposal to replace the Baghdad government with a U.S.-led military government runs deep and wide, with such words as "rebellion" being tossed about.

Many delegates assembling here also said they felt betrayed by President Bush's administration, which they perceive to be ignoring the Iraqi opposition.

"We don't think an American occupation will work," said Mowaffak al Rubaie, a Shiite Arab delegate to the opposition meeting expected to begin next week. "The people will see Mr. George Bush as an occupier. The people of Iraq will take to the streets. There will be rebellion," he said.

Administration officials say plans include the "liberation" of Iraq — not a long-term U.S. military occupation — and maintenance of the country's territorial integrity. A final goal would be elections based on a democratic constitution.

Even the traditionally pro-American Kurds, who run the autonomous northern enclave here under the protection of U.S. and British air patrols, have lashed out because of reports the United States is considering a plan that would allow the Kurds' longtime enemy Turkey to send up to 80,000 troops into Iraq as part of the U.S.-led invasion.

"Its a nightmare for me to wake up and see Turkish tanks outside," said Nasreen Sideek Barwari, the U.S.-educated Kurdish reconstruction minister. "If they came here, there would be demonstrations. There would be resistance."

Many Turks fear a war could prompt Iraqi Kurds to declare an independent state, which might encourage Turkey's own, restive Kurdish minority in their separatist goals. The Kurds have said they would be willing to head into the mountains and actively fight any Turkish incursion, but have said they would only be constructively critical of any U.S. proposal to occupy Iraq.

Representatives of Iraq's ethnic Turk and Christian minorities also voiced doubt about the U.S. proposal.

"We would not support any military regime in Iraq, whether by Americans or anyone else," said Romeo Hakari, of the Assyrian Democratic Party, which represents some of Iraq's Christian community. "We would not like to replace the current regime with another general."

Other opponents of the American plan warned that they would fight any long-term occupation. Such critics include the Kurdistan Communist Party, which polled 10 percent of the vote in Irbil municipal elections last year and has military bases in several northern Iraqi cities.

At the fancy Chwar Chra Hotel, figures from a 65-member Iraqi opposition steering committee said they would defy what they perceived as U.S. slighting of the Iraqi opposition groups.

Delegates held a two-hour "exploratory meeting" yesterday in Salahuddin, before the oft-delayed conference, now slated to begin no sooner than tomorrow in the mountaintop stronghold of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which rules this section of the Kurdish autonomous area.

Iraqi opposition first said the meeting would end with a declaration of a provisional postwar government with ministerial titles.

"For now everything is in the air," said Husham Al Husainy, a Dearborn, Mich.-based Shiite Arab cleric and member of the 65. "We'll come down later and we'll determine who's taking what."

Hoshiyar Zebari, an official with the Kurdistan Democratic Party, used diplomatic language in saying that the United States has a "huge responsibility on its shoulders" in attacking Iraq.

He quickly added, however that the Iraqi opposition would resist a long-term U.S. occupation.

"The Iraqi people will be the masters of their future," he said.

Information from the Los Angeles Times is included in this report.

		Druckversion
	23.02.2003 \| The Seattle Times \| by Borzou Daragahi Opposition sees betrayal in postwar plan IRBIL, Iraq — From the most radical communist to the most pro-American figures, Iraqi opposition members gathering here to discuss the country's future expressed deep reservations yesterday about reported U.S. plans for an Iraq after the potential ouster of Saddam Hussein. Criticism of a proposal to replace the Baghdad government with a U.S.-led military government runs deep and wide, with such words as "rebellion" being tossed about. Many delegates assembling here also said they felt betrayed by President Bush's administration, which they perceive to be ignoring the Iraqi opposition. "We don't think an American occupation will work," said Mowaffak al Rubaie, a Shiite Arab delegate to the opposition meeting expected to begin next week. "The people will see Mr. George Bush as an occupier. The people of Iraq will take to the streets. There will be rebellion," he said. Administration officials say plans include the "liberation" of Iraq — not a long-term U.S. military occupation — and maintenance of the country's territorial integrity. A final goal would be elections based on a democratic constitution. Even the traditionally pro-American Kurds, who run the autonomous northern enclave here under the protection of U.S. and British air patrols, have lashed out because of reports the United States is considering a plan that would allow the Kurds' longtime enemy Turkey to send up to 80,000 troops into Iraq as part of the U.S.-led invasion. "Its a nightmare for me to wake up and see Turkish tanks outside," said Nasreen Sideek Barwari, the U.S.-educated Kurdish reconstruction minister. "If they came here, there would be demonstrations. There would be resistance." Many Turks fear a war could prompt Iraqi Kurds to declare an independent state, which might encourage Turkey's own, restive Kurdish minority in their separatist goals. The Kurds have said they would be willing to head into the mountains and actively fight any Turkish incursion, but have said they would only be constructively critical of any U.S. proposal to occupy Iraq. Representatives of Iraq's ethnic Turk and Christian minorities also voiced doubt about the U.S. proposal. "We would not support any military regime in Iraq, whether by Americans or anyone else," said Romeo Hakari, of the Assyrian Democratic Party, which represents some of Iraq's Christian community. "We would not like to replace the current regime with another general." Other opponents of the American plan warned that they would fight any long-term occupation. Such critics include the Kurdistan Communist Party, which polled 10 percent of the vote in Irbil municipal elections last year and has military bases in several northern Iraqi cities. At the fancy Chwar Chra Hotel, figures from a 65-member Iraqi opposition steering committee said they would defy what they perceived as U.S. slighting of the Iraqi opposition groups. Delegates held a two-hour "exploratory meeting" yesterday in Salahuddin, before the oft-delayed conference, now slated to begin no sooner than tomorrow in the mountaintop stronghold of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which rules this section of the Kurdish autonomous area. Iraqi opposition first said the meeting would end with a declaration of a provisional postwar government with ministerial titles. "For now everything is in the air," said Husham Al Husainy, a Dearborn, Mich.-based Shiite Arab cleric and member of the 65. "We'll come down later and we'll determine who's taking what." Hoshiyar Zebari, an official with the Kurdistan Democratic Party, used diplomatic language in saying that the United States has a "huge responsibility on its shoulders" in attacking Iraq. He quickly added, however that the Iraqi opposition would resist a long-term U.S. occupation. "The Iraqi people will be the masters of their future," he said. Information from the Los Angeles Times is included in this report. Copyright © 2002 The Seattle Times Company WADI e.V. \| tel.: (+49) 069-57002440 \| fax (+49) 069-57002444 http://www.wadinet.de \| e-mail: