Japanese editorial excerpts

0 Comments | Asian Political News, July 28, 2003

TOKYO, July 25 Kyodo

Selected editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

IRAQIS TAKE CONTROL (The Japan Times, an English-language daily) EDITORIAL

The inauguration of an Iraqi-led government in Baghdad is the first concrete step toward creating a free and democratic Iraq. Installation of the Iraqi Governing Council by the United States is still problematic, but a successful transition from U.S. administration to a stable and functioning civil society will ensure its legitimacy.

To facilitate that process, as well as international acceptance of the new government, the United Nations should oversee the task of reconstructing Iraq.

The Governing Council comprises 25 members, 22 men and three women. It has the power to appoint and dismiss ministers; it will draft the 2004 budget (and will be able to amend the current-year budget drawn up by the American Coalition Provisional Government); and it will oversee the creation of the body that will draft the new Iraqi constitution.

One of its first orders is to set up special tribunals to try members of the former regime. Despite the impressive list of tasks, the U.S. retains veto power over all council decisions.

The Governing Council brought its vision of the new Iraq to the U.N. this week, telling delegates that its primary goal is to shorten the period of interim administration and allow the Iraqi people to establish their own democratically elected government.

To achieve that, Mr. Adnan Pachachi, a former foreign minister (before Saddam Hussein took power) and head of the Independent Iraqis for Democracy, stressed the need to restore law and order and called on U.N. members to actively contribute to the rebuilding of the country. He warned of mounting frustrations among the Iraqi people as lawlessness continues and basic services remain unavailable.

An election would ease many of the concerns, but Iraq is in no condition to administer a vote. Any government that was elected would be unable to run the country and would only end up discredited. It is far better that an external authority create the conditions that would allow a free and fair election to be held so that the government that won it would have a fighting chance of success. The U.N. is the best way to accomplish this.

The task of stabilizing Iraq has become immeasurably easier with the reported deaths of Odai and Qusai, Hussein's two sons, earlier this week. The two men were thought to have overseen and organized resistance to the occupation forces with attacks that were claiming almost one soldier's life a day.

Killed in a six-hour firefight with U.S. forces, they were second and third on the most wanted list. Their deaths will be a blow to the armed resistance. Perhaps more significant is that the former Iraqi strongman's inner circle has been cracked; an informer reportedly alerted the occupation forces to the two men's location at a villa owned by a relative.

U.N. unease about taking over the administration of Iraq is matched by that in Washington, which remains suspicious of deferring to the world body and giving up its authority in Baghdad. That both sides are uncomfortable suggests a compromise is possible.

If both are truly concerned about the welfare of the Iraqi people and the long-term stability of the region, then they will put those concerns first.

(July 25)