World Opinion Roundup: Iraq Picks A Prime Minister

In his weekly discussion, washingtonpost.com staff writer Jefferson Morley conducts a freewheeling tour of the best of Internet news sites from Afghanistan to Beijing to Mexico City to Paris to Zimbabwe.

Iraq's majority Shiite coalition has chosen Ibrahim Jafari, Iraq's interim vice president, to be its candidate for the powerful post of prime minister of Iraq. Ahmed Chalabi, a former U.S. ally and the head of the Iraqi National Congress, who was still in the running for the post, withdrew from the race Tuesday apparently after seeing he had no chance of winning the Shiite alliance's support.

Morley discusses this sign of Washington's waning influence in Iraq.

Read today's column:Washington's Waning Influence in Iraq (World Opinion Roundup, Feb. 22)

Roundup brings the diversity of the global online media to your screen, presenting today's news and views from journalists, pundits and commentators from every continent. We'll talk about America in the eyes of the world, compare journalistic practices, analyze politics and perspectives, examine the nature of news and debate styles of journalism.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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Jefferson Morley: Welcome to today's discussion.

Remember, comments and queries that come with links to interesting articles in the international online media will receive preferential treatment.

If you want to receive the World Opinion Roundup via email, send a message to jeff.morley@wpni.com and put "subscribe" in the subject line.

And now your questions.

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St. Louis, Mo.: Is waning American influence in Iraq a bad thing? After two years of occupation I'd be far more concerned about increasing American influence.

Jefferson Morley: I don't think waning U.S. influence in Iraq is a bad thing. It is clearly the preference of the voting public there.

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San Antonio, Tex.: "At stake are the nature of the Iraqi constitution that the new assembly will write and the presence of U.S. troops in the country."

In the closing sentence of your insightful piece today, Jeff, you do not sound optimistic, citing historical precedent that, during the last 24 months, American wishes have not prevailed over Shiite demands. How reasonable do you think is the argument that the new Iraqi constitution SHOULD reflect American interests? Would a stable Islamic theocracy be acceptable to Bush and his administration? Also, do you believe the emerging Iraqi leadership, in the near future, will determine the U.S. exit strategy?

Also, I am quite dismayed at Bush's response about whether he will invite Chirac to his Crawford compound. If Bush is looking for a "good cowboy," then why didn't Bush visit his home state where a number of "good cowboys" abound. Is it no wonder that utterances such as these offend politically sophisticated Europeans and paint Bush, as yet again, a simpleton. If only Bush could control his syntax!

Jefferson Morley: I don't think the Iraqi constitution should reflect American demands. It should reflect Iraqi demands.

I can understand why Iraqis would want to replace their current constitution which was drafted by an American law school professor.

The Bush administration's view towards the new government of Iraq will be determined by U.S. interests in Iraq, and nothing else: Those interests now are maintaining U.S. troops, securing long-term military bases and influencing Iraq's oil policy.

Whatever the Iraqi government it will face persistent U.S. demands around these issues. I expect that the government's responses on these issues, far more than its religious orientation or democratic practices, will determine the Bush administration's position.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: What is the Bush Administration likely to do if the democratically elected government of Iraq asks U.S. troops to leave? The platform of the winning coalition does include withdrawal of foreign troops and it seems clear that is what the Iraqis who voted for the winning coalition want. If Bush refuses the request, how can he continue to claim he supports democracy in Iraq?

Jefferson Morley: You have identified a crucial question facing the administration. The Bush administration is clearly hoping that it will not be invited to leave, a request that would be very hard to turn down.

On the other hand, the security situation is so bad in Iraq that the incoming government is going to have to think hard about setting a timetable for U.S. withdrawal.

Ibrahim Jafari, the new prime minister, was among the first to organize demonstrations calling for U.S. withdrawal in 2003. Now he is backing off demands for a timetable.

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Baltimore, Md. : What is being done about overspending in Iraq?

Jefferson Morley: An auditor is now going over U.S. government books in Iraq and sending quarterly reports to Congress.

In his latest report auditor Stuart Bowen said U.S. officials had exercised "less than adequate" oversight over $8.8 billion in expenditures.

You can read the report at the link below.

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washingtonpost.com: Auditor on Iraq Spending

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Glenmont, Md.: Most international sources agree that Syria was behind the assassination of Harari in Lebanon. Would you agree or are you convinced that it was part of a Zionist plot to take over the world?

Jefferson Morley: No, definitely not. People who talk about "Zionist plots" to take over the world are usually anti-Semites. I avoid them.

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Boca Raton, Fla.: Mr. Morley,

Do you think Ahmed Chalabi will be given a high level (or even a low level) position in the new Iraqi government?

Jefferson Morley: Chalabi will get some sort of position if he wants it.

The fact that he was able to mount a serious bid to become prime minister speaks to his base among Shiite parliamentarians.

His resilience should not be underestimated.

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San Antonio, Tex.: Paint for us the real reasons for Bush's European junket and whether or not Bush will be successful? How will Bush himself determine the results or outcomes of his overseas stops, if, as you say, U.S. interests in Iraq are maintaining U.S. troops, securing long-term military bases, and influencing Iraq's oil policy.

Jefferson Morley: Bush needs help to accomplish his goals and Europe's antagonism is an obstacle to that help. So he is going to Europe to take the edge of that antagonism.

I think Bush is realistic about how much one trip and series of speeches can accomplish.

He would love to get some European troops into Iraq to help with training that country's new army but he will not get that.

He would also like to get Europe on his side on the question of Iran. His statement to effect that the United States and Europe are in "the early stages" of diplomacy seemed designed to give the impression he is listening to European public opinion which has been inflamed by thinly veiled threats of military action against Iran.

Substantive differences cannot be bridged in one trip.

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New York, N.Y.: People who talk about Zionist plots are usually anti-Semites? They are always anti-Semites and it does not reflect well on you to not make that clear.

Jefferson Morley: Dear New York. I happen to know that that question came from an ardent supporter of Israel. I did not want to imply that he was anti-Semite. I am certain he is not.

Am I clear?

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Alexandria, Va.: Good Afternoon,
How is the world press covering Bush's admission on tape that he used both marijuana and cocaine?
Thanks from Alexandria

Jefferson Morley: "Oh Boy, George May Have Puffed on Marijuana," was the headline in The Economic Times of India.

The story is definitely getting picked up.

See link below.

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washingtonpost.com: Economic Times of India on Bush's Alleged Drug Use

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Richmond, Va.: You have the following quote in today's article:

'"While Shiites overwhelmingly favor specifying the Sharia as the sole source of legislation, the Kurdish leaders are not so keen. And the Americans are decidedly against it," says Hiro.'

If Iraq is supposed to have a sovereign government, what difference should it make to them what we think and what we want? Either they're independent -- and thus free to do as they please -- or they're not. Bush seems to think that democracy, both at home and abroad, is having a freely elected government that will do exactly what he wants them to do, when and how he wants them to do it.

Jefferson Morley: You've got the nub of the issue correctly.

While the United States professes the goal of Iraqi democracy, it is willing and eager to exercise its influence on Iraqi's democratic process in order to secure its own goals.

Remember that the Bush administration never envisioned that it would be handing power over to a directly elected Shiite dominated government formally committed to a timetable for U.S. withdrawal.

The original U.S. plan called for a secular government chose through regional caucuses, dominated by U.S.-appointed officials, which would ratify a U.S.-written constitution.

The tensions between the Iraqi government and the Bush administration are not going to go away.

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Ft. Plain, N.Y.: What's Allawi poking his nose in here for ... clearly out numbered ... whining other day about influence of Iran ... he should have campaigned harder ... that's how democracies work ... party that expected to win doesn't always and besides would look fixed if too much American influence, don't you agee?

Jefferson Morley: I would say that Allawi's comments suggest how nervous U.S.-backed political figures are about the Shiites coming to power.

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Anonymous: It is amusing to know end to see how utterly defensive you get whenever you perceive that you are being attacked as being anti-Israeli. I presume this is because this happens to you on a consistent basis (justifiably so).

Jefferson Morley: Look, I try to answer all questions.

If people accuse me of anti-Israeli bias, I let them have their say even if they, like you, offer no evidence.

As liberal, I try to keep the discussion as wide open as possible.

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Austin, Tex.: Mr. Morley,

President Bush seems to be having at least a modest amount of success in patching things up with European leaders.

But everything I've read (as well as reports from people who have been to Europe recently) makes it sound as though the European public is very angry at Bush and the U.S. Especially after he was re-elected.

Do you agree? Isn't European public opinion going to be harder to turn around? Or is the damage permanent? And do you think negative European public opinion is going to hurt the U.S. over time?

Jefferson Morley: European public opinion will be much harder to turn around. But Bush isn't up for election in Europe so public opinion matters less than how governments respond. The invasion of Iraq was very unpopular in Italy and Poland but Bush was able to persuade their governments to help.

Similarly, European public opinion isn't likely to move Bush's way but he may be able to convince European governments that they should act in concert.

As pundits with a weakness for cliche tirelessly remind us, the U.S. and Europe "have many interests in common." France and the United States, for example, agree that Syria should withdraw its troops from Lebanon.

The big questions are Iraq (will Europe help with military training? Probably not) and Iran (can Europe and the U.S. develop a common strategy? Maybe)

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Greenwich, Conn.: Hi Jeff,

What is the world press, particularly the Arab press, saying about the recent steps taken by Israel to help give Abu Abbas more credit ability? Specifically, Israel's decision to end house demolitions and re-draw the future "terrorist-apartheid" wall closer to the '67 borders. What is your opinion?

Jefferson Morley: "Wait and See" seems to be the attitude. I will be following this.

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Indianapolis, Ind.: Jefferson,

Have you seen much opinion about Julia Tymoshenko, the new P.M. of Ukraine, from foreign sources? Although, I am on her side, she seems like such a polarizing figure and maybe the real leader of Ukraine now. Someone that every one will have to deal with.
Pravda (Feb. 22)

Jefferson Morley: Tymoshenko is controversial, especially in Russia.

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Manassas, Va.: Am I the only one who seems to remember Chalabi's repeated insistence during and following the war that he had no interest in any political post in the new Iraq? What happened?

Jefferson Morley: Everybody remembers those comments--and remembers the First Commandment of Ahmed Chalabi Watching: "Believe what he says at your own risk."

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Indianapolis, Ind.: jefferson,

It's sad to see so many closed-minded people that can only put labels on you when you mention a negative aspect about a subject. Let's see now, you're unpatriotic because you don't believe everything Bush does is correct. You're an anti-Semite because you don't think Israel is perfect. Same with Palestinians. What scares me was that I was complaining about how my new leather shoes were making my feet sore and I wonder how many people now think I'm anti-cow.

Jefferson Morley: Thanks Indianapolis.

For the record, I am pro-cow.

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Jefferson Morley: Our time is up.

Thanks for the questions.

If you want to receive the World Opinion Roundup via email, send a message to jeff.morley@wpni.com and put "subscribe" in the message line. Your address will not be used for any other purpose.

See you next week.

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