posted on July 4, 2004 05:09:42 AM new
For all those who think this war has changed the Iraqi way of thinking, ya right. It would appear they think the actions of the insurgents are/were justified even in the killing of U.S. soldiers and would like to offer the insurgents amnesty. I haven't formed a real opinion on this yet, but I have to wonder what the real opinion of the Bush administration is. In some respects, it borders of offering amnesty to all war criminals.
Iraq government may offer amnesty to insurgents
Spokesman says anti-U.S. attacks ‘justified’ due to occupation
A militant loyal to rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stands in a home in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood on June 28.
The Associated Press
Updated: 4:14 p.m. ET
July 03, 2004BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq’s prime minister, less than a week after taking power, may offer amnesty to insurgents and could extend it to those who killed American troops in an apparent bid to lure Saddam Hussein loyalists from their campaign of violence.
A spokesman for Iyad Allawi went as far as to suggest attacks on U.S. troops over the past year were legitimate acts of resistance — a sign of the new government’s desire to distance itself from the 14-month U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.
“If he (a guerrilla) was in opposition against the Americans, that will be justified because it was an occupation force,” spokesman Georges Sada said of the rebels. “We will give them freedom.”
Choking the brutal insurgency is the No. 1 priority of Allawi’s government, and the prime minister is expected to make a number of security-related policy announcements in coming days.
Besides the amnesty plan, those include a new emergency law that sets curfews in Iraq’s trouble spots and resurrects of Iraq’s death penalty, Sada said.
Still in the works
The amnesty plan is still in the works, and a full pardon for insurgents who killed Americans is not a certainty, Sada said. The main thrust is to “start everything from new” by giving a second chance to rebel fighters who hand in their weapons and swear off the insurgency.
“There is still heavy discussion about this,” said Sada, interviewed in the prime minister’s office. He said the U.S. Embassy has encouraged Allawi to try creative solutions to end the insurgency as long as they don’t infringe on human rights.
There is wide acknowledgment that U.S. occupation chief L. Paul Bremer’s disbanding of Iraq’s army and security services was a mistake, and forced people into fighting the occupation for money and revenge, Sada said.
“Some people were cheated, some were misled. Some did this because they had no salaries, no food, no bread,” Sada said.
There appears to be little controversy about pardoning rebels who were not actual killers of U.S. or Iraqi security forces. Sada said it was “no problem” to amnesty rebel financiers and those storing heavy weapons in their homes.
The offer appears to be intended to drive a wedge between nationalist Iraqis who fought the U.S.-led occupation and their growing alliance with Islamic fighters who want to drive Westerners and their influence out of Iraq.
One former colonel in Saddam Hussein’s secret police said he and other former members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party would welcome any amnesty. The man, now a Mosul taxi driver who asked that he simply be called Abu Hani, said the Islamist fighters would be unlikely to accept Allawi’s offer.
“In my opinion, Allawi and (President Ghazi) al-Yawer are working to salvage the country from the ordeal. They are going in the right direction,” Abu Hani said.
posted on July 4, 2004 06:15:48 AM new
The REAL opinion of the bush administration is that if it doesn't interfere with Haliburton and other American companies making money...it's OK!
I think it may help Iraq settle down a lot more quickly...they want stability so they can have electricty, clean water, jobs....these are more important than long legal battles with captured insurgents.
And, yes, the insurgents did kill Americans....and Americans did kill Iraqi civilians...should they be held accountable?
posted on July 4, 2004 06:54:48 AM new
I'm all for serving justice on these guys, but if the official government of Iraq wants to do amnesty, I can see their point.
It'll put an end to much of the violence. Those who have been violent in the past will have the opportunity to stop without repercussions. Those who continue will be criminals.
It will help in some cases and won't in others. It probably would reduce the daily violence.
Remember most of these guys were ex-army people who have been unemployed since the fall of Saddam. With 55% unemployment, there arebound to be troublemakers. Get the people working and much will improve.
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
posted on July 4, 2004 07:43:10 AM new
It's a ridiculous idea to think that the insurgents will give up their weapons and surrender to George Bush's puppet government.
