Asleep at the wheel

Right before I went to bed, I wondered how the Iraqi Governing Council and the US would play off the fact that former Foreign Minister Adnan Pachachi had been announced as the new president of Iraq.

Well, Pachachi has turned down the post, making way for the IGC's choice of Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer to be president. Then the IGC formally disbanded, with a few of it's members getting appointments into cabinet positions.

What does it all mean? Well, I'm sure if I weren't only a week or two into this, I could tell you. The IGC had fallen out of favor with the Iraqi people for being too weak and a pawn of the Americans. Now they get their choice of Prime Minister and President, as well as a few cabinet post, after the inital annoucement they would get nothing and like it.

I guess you can look at it one of two ways. It's either a mad power grab by the IGC as it dissolves, or an orchestrated attempt to make the US appear to have a lesser influence than it does. Remember that the IGC is made up of US appointements, so having them in charge is still akin to being picked by the US. So for the IGC to stage a coup is little more than shadow play. They can say they stood up to the appointees the Americans wanted, even though they are what the Americans wanted. An odd conspiracy, I know.

And it appears it is unlikely to work. From the Globe and Mail, it appears that whoever comes out of these appointments will have little respect.

"The Governing Council was chosen by the Americans after the occupation began, so we don't trust them," said Sadiq Ahmed, a 27-year-old hospital technician in Baghdad. "They behave like Saddam Hussein. They always need bodyguards and escorts because they are afraid of the people. . . . We want leaders who understand our suffering."

Samir Sadiq, a street vendor in Baghdad, is suspicious of the 32 years that Mr. Allawi spent in exile. "He spent almost his whole life outside Iraq and then he returned with the occupiers," he said. "A good prime minister must be elected by the people. Allawi was selected by the Governing Council, so he will work for the Americans."

Even among the affluent shopkeepers of Baghdad's central Karrada district, the natural constituency for a pro-American politician, there is no groundswell of support for Mr. Allawi and the other council members. Some merchants say they could accept him, but others were skeptical.

"He was a Baathist. I don't think he will be fair to people," said Amer al-Abed, the 45-year-old owner of a cellphone shop.

It will be interesting to read more as it comes out of Iraq, as I am no expert on the middle east. Already I have read articles recalling Allawi's financial lobbying back in January , and been reminded of Brahimi's inital reaction to Allawi's appointment as PM.

In his initial statements, U.N. special envoy to Iraq Lakhdar Brahimi refused to discuss the selection of Allawi.

"I don't want to go back saying who is good and who is bad," he said.

But in a hint that the selection process had not gone exactly as planned, Brahimi added: "You know, sometimes people think I am a free agent out here, that I have a free hand to do whatever I want."

U.N. officials said any misgivings that Brahimi had about Allawi were all about his past association with the C.I.A. and how it will play with the Iraqi public opinion.

Furthermore, statements from the U.N. Confirmed the idea that Brahimi was merely bowing to the wishes of the others.

"Mr. Brahimi respects the decision and says he can work with this person," said Fred Eckhard, the spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

"This is not the way we expected this to happen, no, but the Iraqis seem to agree on this name, and if they do, Mr. Brahimi is ready to work with him," he said.

The only thing clear from this is that the UN's input was minimal at best. The US appears to have gone it alone once again in Iraq. Will they ever learn?

*UPDATE*
A friend has pointed me in the direction of Juan Cole, viewed as an expert on this whole thing. His view?

How weak the Americans have become in Iraq became clear in Iraq on Tuesday when their choice for the ceremonial post of president of the transitional government had to withdraw in favor of Ghazi al-Yawar, the choice of the Interim Governing Council.

What can I say? I'm not an expert. I'm not about to accuse the guy of being duped or anything like that. But I do wonder how weak it is to lose out on an appointment on a largely ceremonial post. I'm not about to take him on, however. Go over there and read more. At least we agree on Allawi(third paragraph from the end).