Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Secretary of Defense of the United States, states that the government of Saddam Hussein, the President of Iraq, will not escape war and that coalition forces will take on preliminary responsibilities for managing the affairs of that country. Mr. Wolfowitz told the American television network Fox that coalition forces will initially be responsible for providing public services, but at the same time will pursue a process that leads to handing over affairs to a provisional government. Mr. Wolfowitz said that the U.S. did not go to Iraq to manage its affairs. The Deputy Secretary of Defense indicated that it will likely take more than six months for coalition forces to hand over the management of Iraq to a new Iraqi government after the current regime in Baghdad is overthrown. Mr. Wolfowitz stated that these responsibilities will gradually be transferred to a provisional Iraqi government. President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are scheduled to meet tomorrow in Belfast, Ireland, to discuss post-war plans for Iraq. Reports indicate that Mr. Blair favors a greater role for the United Nations in the reconstruction of Iraq. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has called a meeting of the Security Council to discuss Iraq for tomorrow, Monday.
Paul Wolfowitz: The Saddam Hussein Government Will Not Escape War
Paul Wolfowitz announced that the Saddam Hussein government will not survive the war and that coalition forces will take initial control of Iraq's administration. He indicated that it may take over six months to transition to a new Iraqi government. This is significant as it outlines the U.S. strategy for post-war Iraq and the involvement of international bodies like the UN.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Paul Wolfowitz announced that the Saddam Hussein government will not survive the war and that coalition forces will initially control Iraq's administration. He indicated that it may take over six months to transition to a new Iraqi government.
- Coalition forces will manage Iraq's public services post-war.
- The U.S. aims to establish a provisional Iraqi government within six months.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 was justified by claims of weapons of mass destruction and the need to remove Saddam Hussein, leading to long-term consequences for the region.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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