HOME
home 
about icg 
programs
  Africa 
  Asia 
  Europe 
  Latin America 
  Middle East 
  Issues 
reports
  by region 
  by date 
  by keyword 
crisiswatch 
media
  media releases 
  articles/op. eds 
  speeches 
  media contacts 
contact us 
donate to icg 
vacancies 
links 

 subscribe
 home  programs  middle east  iraq/iran/gulf
search
 
  Governing Iraq as opposition becomes stronger and more violent

Baghdad/Washington/Brussels, 25 August 2003: The horrific bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad has focused renewed attention on the question of who, if anyone, is capable of governing Iraq in the current highly volatile environment, and in particular what should be the respective roles of the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), the Iraqi Interim Governing Council and the United Nations.

A new report published today by the International Crisis Group, Governing Iraq* says Washington’s unilateral approach is no longer sustainable. Until national elections can be held and full Iraqi sovereignty restored – which will take time, but can’t afford to be longer than two years - there needs to be a new distribution of authority between the three which the Coalition, the wider international community and most Iraqis can all accept.

Opposition to the foreign occupation is becoming stronger and more violent, and the appointment by the Coalition of the Interim Governing Council last month is unlikely to deflect criticism. A gathering of political leaders with weak popular followings, it has a clumsy nine-person rotating presidency, insufficient authority and no bureaucratic support. And the principle behind its composition, mirroring Iraq’s ethnic and religious makeup, is likely to reinforce these divisions rather than diminish them.

“At present, the vast majority of Iraqis give no indication of supporting armed resistance,” said ICG Middle East Program Director Robert Malley, “but, dissatisfied with current conditions and lacking loyalty to or trust in a central authority, many are not willing to oppose it either. Unless the situation is rapidly turned around, the distinctions between different opposition groups could fade and increasing numbers of Iraqis could look upon the resistance with greater – and more active – sympathy.”

The UN presently has a subordinate, advisory role, its vulnerability not matched by any real authority. The ICG report urges that there be a new Security Council resolution giving the UN responsibility for the political transition - overseeing the Interim Governing Council, the constitution-making process and ultimately national elections. That resolution should also endorse the transformation of the Coalition military forces into a Multinational Force, still led by the US but much more likely to win international participation on this basis. And it should create an international police force, to gradually take over the policing role from an ill-suited coalition military and transfer it to reconstituted Iraqi services.

Under the new arrangements the CPA would retain overall responsibility for security, as well as the restoration of basic infrastructure. And a broader-based, properly empowered and resourced Interim Governing Council would be responsible for all other matters of day to day governance.

“We’re not suggesting that Washington and London reverse course: we know they won’t. But unless they give both Iraqis and the wider international community some greater sense of partnership in the transition process, it’s going to be downhill all the way”, said ICG President Gareth Evans.


MEDIA CONTACTS
Katy Cronin (London) +44 20 7981 0330 [email protected]
Francesca Lawe-Davies (Brussels) +32-(0)2-536 00 65
Jennifer Leonard (Washington) +1-202-785 1601
*Read the Report in full on our website: http://www.crisisweb.org/

The International Crisis Group (ICG) is an independent, non-profit, multinational organisation, with over 90 staff members on five continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict.


comments


copyright privacy sitemap