Not By The People
I noted this interesting review of an op-ed piece by Ahmed Chalabi, from last February, concerning the US’s plans for the occupation and restructuring of Iraq:
“[T]he plan … calls for an American military governor to rule Iraq for up to two years. … The occupation authorities would appoint a ‘consultative council’ of handpicked Iraqis with non-executive powers and unspecified authority, serving at the pleasure of the American governor. The occupation authorities would also appoint a committee to draft a constitution for Iraq. After an unspecified period, indirect elections would be held for a ‘constituent assembly’ that would vote to ratify the new constitution without a popular referendum.”
At no point in this democratic transition, it should be noted, will the Iraqi people actually be permitted to vote.
Earlier here.