Iraqi sovereignty
Encyclopedia
Iraq
i sovereignty was interrupted by the multinational forces
which overthrew Saddam Hussein
in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
.
On 8 June 2004, the United Nations Security Council resolution 1546 was adopted unanimously, calling for "the end of the occupation and the assumption of full responsibility and authority by a fully sovereign and independent Interim Government of Iraq by 30 June 2004."
The transfer of sovereignty actually took place a day or two ahead of schedule. Though resulting in the legal return of sovereignty to an Iraqi-led governing force and technically ending the occupation
, practical responsibilities continue to be handed over by the multinational force in Iraq.
After major combat operations ended, US President George W. Bush
set up the Coalition Provisional Authority
(CPA) and led by United States civilian administrator Paul Bremer. On July 22, 2003, the CPA formed the Iraqi Governing Council
. The council created a provisional constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion
but also forbidding any law to be created that violates the principles of Islam
.
The multinational forces set June 30 as the deadline for transferring power back to the Iraqis. As the deadline loomed, fighting increased, with various local insurgents trying to grab power away from the national council and (presumably) prevent Iraq from becoming a sovereign republic
. Instability, resentment, and a vacuum of legitimate power resulting from the occupation encouraged some militants from neighboring countries to join in the fight. Washington Times reporter Rowan Scarborough wrote, "Foreign fighters from Syria
have become a major stumbling block to stabilizing Iraq and turning over sovereignty by June 30". http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040420-115628-7182r.htm On 8 June 2004, the United Nations Security Council resolution 1546 was adopted unanimously and the transfer took place a day or two ahead of schedule.
On January 30, 2005, Iraq's first post-war democratic elections were held, without much violence. These elections created the Iraqi National Assembly, which in April 2005 appointed a new administration, including President Jalal Talabani
and Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari
. The US administration has repeatedly claimed that they would leave the country if asked to do so by the Iraqi leadership. http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0129/iraq1.html Talabani has stated that improvements in the strength of Iraq's own army could enable US troop reductions of up to 50,000 by the end of 2005, though he has since backtracked from that claim. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/12/AR2005091201986_pf.html
Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1790
, the mandate of the multinational force in Iraq
was extended until December 31, 2008, after which there is no justification for foreign militaries to remain in the country. On June 6, 2008, the Independent reported that the United States was applying pressure to the government of Iraq to sign a “strategic alliance” (not a “treaty”, which would require approval of the US senate), giving US forces broad freedom in continuing to operate in Iraq.
has thus ended. These advocates regard the insurgent
s as rebels
against the Iraqi authorit
ies. Some opponents of the war regard the continued presence of the multinational forces in Iraq as constituting an occupation
.
Accordingly, they describe the insurgents in positive terms as "resistance
" fighters whose main aim is to expel the foreign forces. http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-04-14 Critics may make comparisons to the Vichy regime in France
and the 1980s Kremlin
-backed regime in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan
(which was considered a puppet regime by Britain and America, who backed mujahadeen guerrillas against the Russians and Afghan regime forces). These claims would be disputed by those who consider Iraq is now sovereign.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i sovereignty was interrupted by the multinational forces
Multinational force in Iraq
The Multi-National Force – Iraq was a military command, led by the United States, which was responsible for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Multi-National Force – Iraq replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on 15 May 2004, and was later itself reorganized into its successor, United...
which overthrew Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
.
On 8 June 2004, the United Nations Security Council resolution 1546 was adopted unanimously, calling for "the end of the occupation and the assumption of full responsibility and authority by a fully sovereign and independent Interim Government of Iraq by 30 June 2004."
The transfer of sovereignty actually took place a day or two ahead of schedule. Though resulting in the legal return of sovereignty to an Iraqi-led governing force and technically ending the occupation
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
, practical responsibilities continue to be handed over by the multinational force in Iraq.
History
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
set up the Coalition Provisional Authority
Coalition Provisional Authority
The Coalition Provisional Authority was established as a transitional government following the invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies, members of the Multi-National Force – Iraq which was formed to oust the government of Saddam Hussein in 2003...
(CPA) and led by United States civilian administrator Paul Bremer. On July 22, 2003, the CPA formed the Iraqi Governing Council
Iraqi Governing Council
The Iraqi Governing Council was the provisional government of Iraq from July 13, 2003 to June 1, 2004. It was established by and served under the United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority...
. The council created a provisional constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
but also forbidding any law to be created that violates the principles of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
The multinational forces set June 30 as the deadline for transferring power back to the Iraqis. As the deadline loomed, fighting increased, with various local insurgents trying to grab power away from the national council and (presumably) prevent Iraq from becoming a sovereign republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
. Instability, resentment, and a vacuum of legitimate power resulting from the occupation encouraged some militants from neighboring countries to join in the fight. Washington Times reporter Rowan Scarborough wrote, "Foreign fighters from Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
have become a major stumbling block to stabilizing Iraq and turning over sovereignty by June 30". http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040420-115628-7182r.htm On 8 June 2004, the United Nations Security Council resolution 1546 was adopted unanimously and the transfer took place a day or two ahead of schedule.
On January 30, 2005, Iraq's first post-war democratic elections were held, without much violence. These elections created the Iraqi National Assembly, which in April 2005 appointed a new administration, including President Jalal Talabani
Jalal Talabani
Jalal Talabani is the sixth and current President of Iraq, a leading Kurdish politician. He is the first non-Arab president of Iraq, although Abdul Kareem Qasim was half Kurdish....
and Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari
Ibrahim al-Jaafari
Ibrahim abd al-Karim Hamzah al-Eshaiker al-Jafari is an Iraqi politician who was Prime Minister of Iraq in the Iraqi Transitional Government from 2005 to 2006, following the January 2005 election. He was previously one of the two Vice-Presidents of Iraq under the Iraqi Interim Government from 2004...
. The US administration has repeatedly claimed that they would leave the country if asked to do so by the Iraqi leadership. http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0129/iraq1.html Talabani has stated that improvements in the strength of Iraq's own army could enable US troop reductions of up to 50,000 by the end of 2005, though he has since backtracked from that claim. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/12/AR2005091201986_pf.html
Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1790
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1790
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1790 was adopted unanimously by the United Nations Security Council on December 18, 2007, extending the mandate of the multinational force in Iraq until December 31, 2008...
, the mandate of the multinational force in Iraq
Multinational force in Iraq
The Multi-National Force – Iraq was a military command, led by the United States, which was responsible for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Multi-National Force – Iraq replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on 15 May 2004, and was later itself reorganized into its successor, United...
was extended until December 31, 2008, after which there is no justification for foreign militaries to remain in the country. On June 6, 2008, the Independent reported that the United States was applying pressure to the government of Iraq to sign a “strategic alliance” (not a “treaty”, which would require approval of the US senate), giving US forces broad freedom in continuing to operate in Iraq.
Controversy
Supporters of the Iraq war tend to agree with the view that Iraq regained its sovereignty in June 2004, and that the occupationMilitary occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
has thus ended. These advocates regard the insurgent
Iraqi insurgency
The Iraqi Resistance is composed of a diverse mix of militias, foreign fighters, all-Iraqi units or mixtures opposing the United States-led multinational force in Iraq and the post-2003 Iraqi government...
s as rebels
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
against the Iraqi authorit
Authority
The word Authority is derived mainly from the Latin word auctoritas, meaning invention, advice, opinion, influence, or command. In English, the word 'authority' can be used to mean power given by the state or by academic knowledge of an area .-Authority in Philosophy:In...
ies. Some opponents of the war regard the continued presence of the multinational forces in Iraq as constituting an occupation
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
.
Accordingly, they describe the insurgents in positive terms as "resistance
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
" fighters whose main aim is to expel the foreign forces. http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?messageDate=2004-04-14 Critics may make comparisons to the Vichy regime in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the 1980s Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
-backed regime in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
(which was considered a puppet regime by Britain and America, who backed mujahadeen guerrillas against the Russians and Afghan regime forces). These claims would be disputed by those who consider Iraq is now sovereign.
External links
- Why Iraq could descend into Civil War - Hammernews
- U.S. sees Syria 'facilitating' insurgents
- Mission and Justice Aggregated News relating to the war and aftermath in Iraq.