Bourke asked me what I thought of the new Iraqi government. Not surprisingly, what I have to say, is far from positive.

The United States has relentlessly pursued the building of an Iraqi government that will be loyal to the US. It has found exiled Iraqis and put them in high power positions so that they are in debt to the US. These individuals have little to no drebility in the eyes of the public because while they have been suffering in poverty and war, thse exiles lived off CIA payrolls in first world countries. So, the legitimacy of this interim government is close to nil in the eyes of the average Iraqi.

Iyad Al Allwai does indeed have deep connections to the CIA. Most of the member of the Iraqi government do. The US has tried and I think succeeded in putting in place a puppet government. This is just what they did in Afghanistan (which, by the way, see,s to have completely vanished from sign and sound). As many of you might know, the President of Afghsnistan, Ahmad Karazai has deep links with the CIA, UNOCAL (a Texas oil conglomerate) and was a part of the formulation process in the United States' GOP - Grand Oil Plan. (Link)

The one shining light in this whole process has been the nomination and placement of the President. The Iraqi government council finally stood up to the US and chose a person that the US (although you wouldn't know it now)was vehemetly opposed to. Even the UN representative though that such a controversial and seemingly critical (of the US) figure was a bad move as it would attratct America's wrath. Yet, The Iraqi council has picked a President that has really been one of the legitimate criticisers of the US occupation. They have picked someone who has not resorted to violence. Instead, he has gone on a a medi binge that has embarassed the US considerably, especially in the Middle East. (Link)

we'll have to wait and see how the new government functions under 'sovereignty', but the prospects are bleak at best.