2008 Woodie Awards
Temporary President Appointed in Iraq
Jalal Talbani is appointed leader as the country's government tries to stabilize.
Erica Tibbetts
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: News
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Iraq hasn't had its own government since the summer of 2003, when U.S. led forces ousted Suddam Hussein, and the old regime was a far cry from what most Americans recognize as legitimate government. The new ruling body is far more democratic and responsive to public opinion than the old dictatorship, but is still in its early stages.
In order to help its fledgling government the 275 member National Assembly recently appointed Jalal Talbani as its president, and Ghazi Yawner and Adel Abdul Mahdi as his vice presidents. The move ends months of political deadlock, following the January elections.
The major point of contention in the appointments was Talabani's Kurdish background. Iraq's Kurdish community suffered some of the worst persecution during Saddam's reign The Shia's, of which Mahdi is a member, and the Kurds have long been at odds with one another. The Kurdish region in the north of Iraq has been fighting for independence for years. The new President is the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan which lent part of its 20,000 strong fighting force to the U.S. troops in the fight for Iraq.
Talabani is also one of the founders of PUK. He was a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, but formed PUK, in 1975, as a splinter group when ideological problems arose. AS a member of KDP, Talbani met with previous presidents in the 60's to discuss the future of the Kurd nation. In 1988 Mr Talbani was exiled from Iraq when the country's government attacked the PUK with chemical weapons. Since then the KDP and PUK have been deadly rivals in their attempts to unify the Kurdish people.
The two parties even started a civil war of sorts, dubbed the "fratricide war", in 1994. Mr Talbani and a KDP representative signed a peace treat in 1998 and since then relations have improved.
Although Mr. Talbani's appointment as President is temporary (elections will take place again in December) and largely ceremonial he does represent the chance for a unification of the Iraqi and Kurdish governments. Experts say that he could greatly decrease the bloodshed if his presidency runs smoothly.
Talbani's main focus appears to be peace and democracy; an inclusion of all the factions present in Iraq. He has pushed for amnesty for insurgents in an attempt to incorporate them in the government. He also encouraged Sunni involvement. Many Sunnis boycotted the recent elections and are underrepresented in the government.
The new government is a turning point in the history of Iraq, bringing with it the possibility for a new and peaceful period.
In order to help its fledgling government the 275 member National Assembly recently appointed Jalal Talbani as its president, and Ghazi Yawner and Adel Abdul Mahdi as his vice presidents. The move ends months of political deadlock, following the January elections.
The major point of contention in the appointments was Talabani's Kurdish background. Iraq's Kurdish community suffered some of the worst persecution during Saddam's reign The Shia's, of which Mahdi is a member, and the Kurds have long been at odds with one another. The Kurdish region in the north of Iraq has been fighting for independence for years. The new President is the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan which lent part of its 20,000 strong fighting force to the U.S. troops in the fight for Iraq.
Talabani is also one of the founders of PUK. He was a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, but formed PUK, in 1975, as a splinter group when ideological problems arose. AS a member of KDP, Talbani met with previous presidents in the 60's to discuss the future of the Kurd nation. In 1988 Mr Talbani was exiled from Iraq when the country's government attacked the PUK with chemical weapons. Since then the KDP and PUK have been deadly rivals in their attempts to unify the Kurdish people.
The two parties even started a civil war of sorts, dubbed the "fratricide war", in 1994. Mr Talbani and a KDP representative signed a peace treat in 1998 and since then relations have improved.
Although Mr. Talbani's appointment as President is temporary (elections will take place again in December) and largely ceremonial he does represent the chance for a unification of the Iraqi and Kurdish governments. Experts say that he could greatly decrease the bloodshed if his presidency runs smoothly.
Talbani's main focus appears to be peace and democracy; an inclusion of all the factions present in Iraq. He has pushed for amnesty for insurgents in an attempt to incorporate them in the government. He also encouraged Sunni involvement. Many Sunnis boycotted the recent elections and are underrepresented in the government.
The new government is a turning point in the history of Iraq, bringing with it the possibility for a new and peaceful period.