Iraq: December 15, 2002

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A meeting of most Iraqi opposition groups in London, sponsored by the United States, is meant mainly for the various groups to get to know each other. Many of these groups have quite different political outlooks. Some are royalists, some want an Islamic republic and others, especially the Kurds, want a federal form of government that would give the Kurds more autonomy. Some of the groups want to establish a government in exile right now, since everyone feels that American troops will remove Saddam sooner rather than later. Some Kurds and Shiites have said they would not recognize rule by an American military government after Saddam was removed. American diplomats at the conference are telling everyone that if the U.S. does have to go in, there will be an American military government for a while and Kurdish autonomy will have to wait until elections are held for a new Iraqi government. The implication there is that the U.S. won't take the heat from the Turks by supporting any autonomy for the Kurds. If the Iraqis want to take on the Turks, they can do it when they are running the show.

Weapons inspectors have asked Germany to supply them with UAVs (remotely controlled reconnaissance aircraft)

U.S. and British warplanes bombed Iraqi aid defense sites in southern Iraq after the Iraqis fired on the coalition aircraft. 

 

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