NO PAPERCLIPS FOR THEM:

Iraqi allies, U.S. split on Baathist policy: Baghdad is blocking a reform that Washington considers crucial to its strategy for reining in violence (Paul Richter, February 24, 2007, LA Times)

Serious new divisions have emerged between the Bush administration and its Iraqi allies over the Baghdad government's refusal to enact a reform that the White House considers crucial to its new strategy for bringing the country's violence under control.

In spite of a commitment by Iraq's prime minister to its passage, legislation that would ease rules barring former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party from government service has been blocked by the country's Shiite-dominated parliament.

U.S. officials repeatedly have expressed confidence that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki would work for passage of "de-Baathification" reform. However, they have begun to express disappointment over the Iraqi stalemate, saying that the reform remains a top political priority and is essential to convince the country's Sunni minority that it can receive fair treatment in the new system.

One U.S. official said the reform, far from advancing as promised, was "moving backward" and "almost dead in the water."

Oughtn't fair treatment begin with justice for their past crimes?

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 24, 2007 12:01 AM