July 25, 2003


Well, it worked in Florida, right?

Now the 1600 Crew want to bring in the "big gunz" to help in that pesky Iraqi Occupation. You know, the one of flower-petals and love. The one that required no planning, needed no foresight. The walk-through PTII. That one. Not the one of no electricity, stifling heat, US soldiers dyng at a pretty striking rate (more than one a day now). This one.

So what "big gun" are they bringing in? Why the master of governmental theft himself, James Baker...you know, ol' Jim the other two-faced Lying W apologist, for the generations of Bush.

The White House hopes to persuade former secretary of state James A. Baker III to take charge of the physical and economic reconstruction of Iraq as part of a broad restructuring of post-war efforts, administration sources said today.

Under the plan, L. Paul Bremer, the chief U.S. administrator in Iraq, would focus on rebuilding the country's political system. The new structure is still in the discussion stages, and a source close to Baker said he has not accepted the job.
...
The sources said one hurdle is determining whether Baker or Bremer would have the final word, and they said that question is unresolved.

You can bet Baker is not going to take orders from any piss-ant former Ambassador.
The negotiations reflect a growing realization within the administration that the post-war plan was inadequate and that simple patience, the White House's initial prescription, will not do.
I only have one thing to say here: BWAHAHAHAHAHA
Administration officials said he would add stability to a process that has been much more chaotic than the administration had hoped, with U.S. troops continuing to suffer casualties from guerrilla attacks. Baker's stature with foreign governments also could help the administration enlist more help in paying for the reconstruction.
Yeah, since Rummy ran around telling every ally to basically fuck off, I'm sure they're going to just welcome Jim Baker with open arms...seeing as he is one of the folks that is most closely associated with la famiglia bush. Oh, yeah, I'm seeing him cooling his heels in waiting rooms all over Europe.
In another augmentation of the post-war structure, the administration plans to name Reuben Jeffrey III as Washington-based coordinator for the Iraq reconstruction effort.
What happened to this guy, didn't he drop enough into the Team Leader fund? Why do they want to make him a patsy for Bremer?

Well, I guess that as with any program involving alcoholics, the first step is to admit you have a problem. Now, if we only knew if President Southern Comfort has actually given up the bottle or not. We know he never learned about the twelve steps...and he's certainly not a Friend of any Bill.
posted by Jo Fish on 07.25.03 at 04:45 PM





Comments:

Well, Baker originally helped introduce Chimpy to his first business partner at Arbusto (one Salem big brother of you know who bin Laden).

All Bremer did was be an errand boy for Henry Kissinger.

I guess the Sauds have known Baker longer, and feel he understands how they'd like Iraq renovated a little better than Bremer.

Ain't crony capitalism the best?

 posted by: the talking dog on 07.25.03 at 07:20 PM [permalink]

Hmmm... here we're complaining about soldiers dying at a "pretty striking rate" (what makes it striking, I wonder)... while above we're supposed to drop troops in the middle of a bloddy civil war, and that's a gimme. I wish we'd pick one theme and stick with it.

 posted by: CJ on 07.25.03 at 08:01 PM [permalink]

Would James Baker III be in a position to protect the interests of Carlyle in the Middle East, or the interests of the Saudi government? Would his assignment be strictly pro bono, or may Baker Botts generate legal business from the commercial aspects of rebuilding Iraq?

As Pogo might have asked, "Is there a cornflake of interest involved?"

 posted by: Shag from Brookline on 07.26.03 at 07:39 AM [permalink]

These are good points that have been brought up. I especially like the Carlyle connection since the House of Saud is heavily invested in Carlyle, which of course is a major supplier to the US military. It's ironic actually. I'm pretty sure that Baker is an investor in Carlyle, unlike GHW Bush, who's merely a paid shill, although a well-paid one.

There were media stories a day or two ago that a number of oil companies were unwilling to invest in Iraq reconstruction because of uncertainty about future political and economic stability.

I can understand how they'd be reluctant to invest their own money in taking over the previously nationalized Iraqi oil industry if there was a chance of losing it to an insurgent Islamic government after an inadequate military force failed to keep the suddenly free Iraqis under control. Cyncically, I'm sure they'd be much more comfortable watching taxpayers' money fix up the infrastructure and then letting them take it over in a keyturn operation.

I wonder if Baker's new task is designed to reassure the oil biggies to invest, since the Treasury cupboard is bare, and further major looting might be considered unwise because of the impending 2004 elections?

Bremer is looking more and more like Jay Garner redux, ain't he?

 posted by: Lurch on 07.26.03 at 10:42 AM [permalink]

Well, it looks like Baker didn't end up taking over in Iraq after all. Maybe he just wouldn't put up with the Paul Bremer makeover required: I have a picture of the courtly and impeccaby dressed Baker, barefoot in his $3,000 pinstriped suit, silk tie and starched shirt, trying with all his might to fight off Paul Bremer, who is forcing those goofy combat boots on him.

Meanwhile, a grinning Karl Rove, Master of Image Making, is walking off triumphantly, holding Baker's $500 Brooks Brothers tasseled loafers and silk socks.

 posted by: Ken Wells on 02.27.04 at 07:51 PM [permalink]


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