Say Anything Blog

Iraq's interim cabinet wants the U.S. to give Iraq complete sovereignty after the June 30th hand-over.

From The Associated Press:

Iraqis will need international help with security and building democratic institutions but insist on "complete sovereignty" after the United States hands over power on June 30, a member of Iraq's interim Cabinet says.

Nesreen Berwari, the minister of public works, said Monday that Iraqis will welcome U.S. security assistance and seek additional international help through the United Nations.

The shape of a government that will take power from the U.S.-led coalition is still being formulated with help from U.N. special adviser Lakhdar Brahimi, who is scheduled to brief the Security Council later Tuesday on his recent trip to Baghdad.

Berwari said Iraqis must take control of local and national government and make decisions on "day-to-day life," including budgets, and "how to move the country politically."

I'd love to see Iraq have full sovereignty, but its not something America can give to them. They're going to have to earn it. Iraq needs to form an army and prove that it can maintain control within its own borders before sovereignty can be talked about. While Iraqi soldiers are deserting the army and security forces in massive numbers that just isn't going to happen.