Former American weapons maker to head Iraqi government

Catholic New Times, April 20, 2003

SAN FRANCISCO -- A growing coalition of American and British citizens and organizations are calling on President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair to stop Jay Garner as the highest ranking civilian of the transitional Iraqi government. The coalition has launched a web site, StopJayGarner.com, to mobilize the public to sign a petition calling on the United Nations to oversee Iraq's reconstruction.

"It's appalling that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair chose a former weapons maker to lead the transition to democracy in Iraq," said Michael Shellenberger, creator of StopJayGarner.com "The selection of a weapons maker and former military general for the top civilian job in Iraq tells the people of the Middle East that we intend to dominate them militarily. If we truly want a democratic Iraq, the U.S. and Britain should let the UN oversee the country's reconstruction."

The StopJayGarner.com coalition points out that the man in charge of overseeing the transition to democracy in Iraq was chosen in secret, without a confirmation hearing or even a press interview (Garner has said that he is too busy to talk to the press).

"Garner is a weapons maker -not a skilled diplomatic leader or Middle East expert," said Medea Benjamin of Global Exchange, a leading human rights group. "Garner epitomizes the worst excesses of the revolving door between the Pentagon and weapons makers. He made millions for his missile company, SY Technology, that are now being used to bomb Baghdad. How can we trust him to look out for the best interests of the Iraqi people?"

The Coalition is calling on President Bush and Prime Minister Blair to allow the UN to oversee the transition to democracy in Iraq.