U.S. quits Iraq two days to plan
By Nkechi Nwosu, Francis Obinor with agency reports
The theatre of violence and surprises which Iraq has lately become got even more astounding yesterday: The United States of America and its allies, represented by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), quit the country they had occupied for 14 months two days ahead of schedule and handed over to an interim government.
The transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis came two days ahead of the planned inauguration of the interim regime in Baghdad and ended 14 months of U.S. direct civil administration of the Gulf nation.
Washington's early departure action was taken reportedly to forestall any covert plans by insurgents to abort the exercise earlier slated for tomorrow.
Immediately, U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair hailed the exercise. In a joint statement from Istanbul, Turkey, where they are currently attending the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit, the two leaders said they were happy with the successful end of the invasion of Iraq and the installation of "democracy" in the country.
Bush, who faces a tough re-election battle this year amid growing discontent over U.S. involvement in Iraq, said the formal handover in Baghdad was "a day of great hope for Iraqis and a day that terrorist enemies hoped never to see".
Asked if Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's government, which took power might impose martial law, Bush said: "He (Allawi) may take tough security measures against Zarqawi - he may have to."
"He will not cower in the face of brutal murder and neither will we," said Bush.
Blair said he still doubted his critics would now see the U.S. and Britain as liberators of Iraq. His domestic popularity has been badly damaged by the Iraq war, which many of his electors view as unnecessary and unjust.
At the event, U.S. civil Administrator, Paul Bremer, quietly sworn-in the remaining officials of the interim government and handed over legal documents to Iraq's head of the Supreme Court to conclude the ceremony.
The brief ceremony at the Green Zone, headquarters of the Coalition Provisional Authority which holsted a few flags took place at 10.26 a.m. local time. Many Iraqis were still on their beds.
Bremer who referred to himself as "ex-administrator" during the handover ceremony, reiterated the popular view that the United States-led Coalition of the Willing forces were there to liberate Iraq.
Preparation for a quiet transfer of power to Iraqis started a week ago, a senior U.S. official disclosed.
Bremer - now the former administrator - read his letter contained in the transfer document:
"As recognised in the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution 1546, the Coalition Provisional Authority will cease to exist on June 28 yesterday, at which point the occupation will end and the Iraqi interim government will assume and exercise full sovereign authority on behalf of the Iraqi people. I welcome Iraqi 's steps to take its rightful place of equality and honour among the free nations of the world. Sincerely, L. Paul Bremer, ex-administrator of the Coalition provisional Authority."
Bremer handed the transfer document to the head of the Iraqi Supreme Court, who then gave it to President Sheikh Ghazi al-Yamar. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and the deputy prime minister also attended.
"I leave Iraq confident in the ability of the government to meet the challenges of the future," Bremer said.
The U.S. official added that he was "proud to return sovereignty" to Iraqis.
Bremer immediately left the country aboard a military aircraft, ending his 14 months of steering affairs of the Iraqi people.
Al-Yawas in his speech said: "We take our country back," and promised that the government would live up to the people's expectations and tackle pending challenges.
The President said that security would be monitored and militancy averted through joint and concise effort of Iraqis.
To this end, he said the government would scrutinise any suspicious activities and report suspects to the police.
But Allawi Prime Minister said: "This is a historic day, a happy day, a day that all Iraqis have been looking forward to. This is the day that we take our country back into the international community.
He remarked that Iraq would never be isolated" as deposed leader Saddam Hussein had wished.
Allawi acknowledged that societal transformation would take years and urged Iraqis to co-operate with the government.
"We have to work together to handle the area's problems," he said.
The prime minister also called for the dumping of ethnic differences for unity to build new Iraq and vowed to end insurgency.
The war started in the early hours of March 20, 2003 when a hail of missiles pounded one of Saddam's assured hide-out and alarmed several thousands of civilians and military personnel. Over $120 billion, according to congressional estimates went into the war.
Interestingly, the transfer of power, which came as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) leaders met in Turkey for a crucial summit expected to endorse the alliance plan to train Iraq's military and security personnel.
An analyst and political scientist, Dr. Ayo Akinbobola, has lauded the U.S. action.
The university of Lagos (UNILAG) teacher told The Guardian: "It is a development in the right direction, which is bound to bring insurgency to end."
"Any attempt by the U.S. to transfer sovereignty to Iraqis is definitely a positive sign. That it came two days ahead of the planned date, does not in anyway diminish the handover," he said.
He however, said the issue of security needed to be given adequate attention by the interim government. "Who controls the security is now the issue," he said.
Also, former External Affairs Minister, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi has said the U.S sudden departure from Iraq was a "major coup". He said that the move would not stop future attacks or violence.
Akinyemi told The Guardian that the exit of the U.S. two days before the scheduled date was a "wrong-footed action against further attacks on the proposed handing over date."
"What the Americans did was to run against those who had planned major and spectacular attacks in order to destroy their intentions."
He continued: "Obviously, no act of violence could have stopped the hand-over, but the act of violence could have distracted attention from it."
"It is obviously not going to stop future violence. That will continue. What happened was only to gain temporary advantage," he declared.
