Management Shakeup in Iraq? 1 comment


The Washington Post reports that the bushies want to bring James Baker in to help clean up the mess:

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.

It is clear that Baker will bring a uniquely informed perspective to this job if he takes it. He may though prefer to continue his current work:

A $1 trillion lawsuit on behalf of the victims of September 11 was filed in August 2002 against more than seventy defendants, including three Saudi princes, several Saudi banks and Islamic institutions, the Sudanese government and the Saudi Bin Laden Group, a construction firm run by Osama Bin Laden’s family. Here’s a report on who’s representing the defendants, from MSNBC:
Baker & Botts, Sultan’s [Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi defense minister] law firm, for example, still boasts former secretary of State James Baker as one of its senior partners. Its recent alumni include Robert Jordan, the former personal lawyer for President Bush who is now US ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

As usual Bilmon has a unique take on the bushies need to involve Jim Baker in post war Iraq:

But a drowning man will clutch at straws, so they say, and a Bush in trouble will clutch at … a retired secretary of state. Personally, I think sending another conservative Texas asshole to the Middle East is overkill, given that Tom DeLay is heading that way already. But you know, God does talk to Shrub, and Baker is a very powerful … being.
Maybe he can walk on water.

Do read the rest.


One thought on “Management Shakeup in Iraq?

  • Ken Wells

    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 a determined 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.

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