Baghdad, Oct 22: Iraq's governing council hopes the Madrid Donors' Conference this week will strengthen its cash-strapped institutions and make the young body an equal
partner with the Americans.
Since the interim council was formed on July 13, members
say they have found themselves on the short end of the stick
with the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA).
In turn, the CPA has been frustrated by the council's
plodding decision-making style -- taking nearly two months to
assemble a cabinet and as of yet failing to take a decision
on how to draft the country's constitution.
"They complain we are slow, but we've told them about
things they didn't act on until it was too late," says
council member Nasir Chaderchi, referring to alarm raised by
the council early on about foreign fighters slipping into
Iraq.
Despite the griping, both sides agree the interim
body, created in the void of post-Saddam Iraq, is evolving
into a real force.
"Now the wheels are turning," adds Chaderchi.
Crucial to this has been the naming of the ministers
and the forming of council sub-committees on key topics
including security and finance.
Adnan Assadi, the deputy to council member Ibrahim
Jaffari, describes the current phase as transitional.
"Right now, the Americans are controlling everything
but the ministers are getting back their role in the
country," Assadi says.
Bureau Report
