US Plans to Take Unilateral Control of Post-war Iraq: US Paper

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, February 22, 2003

US Plans to Take Unilateral Control of Post-war Iraq: US Paper

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The Bush administration plans to take complete, unilateral control of a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq,with an interim administration headed by a yet-to-be named American civilian, the Washington Post reported Friday.

According to a blueprint described by US officials and other sources, Gen. Tommy Franks, the head of the U.S. Central Command, is to maintain military control as long as US troops are there.

Once security was established and weapons of mass destruction were located and disabled, a US administrator would run the civilian government and direct reconstruction and humanitarian aid.

In the early days of military action, US forces following behind those in combat would distribute food and other relief items and begin needed reconstruction.

The goal, officials said, would be to make sure the Iraqi people "immediately" consider themselves better off than they werethe day before war, and attribute their improved circumstances directly to the United States.

The initial humanitarian effort, as previously announced, is tobe directed by retired US army Lt. Gen. Jay Garner. But once he got to Baghdad, sources said, Garner would quickly be replaced as the supreme civil authority by an American "of stature," such as aformer US state governor or ambassador, officials said.

Although some of the broad strokes of US plans for a post-Hussein Iraq have previously been reported, newly finalized elements include the extent of US control and the plan to appoint a nonmilitary civil administrator.

Officials cautioned that developments in Iraq could lead them to revise the plan on the run. Yet to be decided is "at what pointand for what purpose" a multinational administration, perhaps run by the United Nations, would be considered to replace the US civilauthority.

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