Report outlines post-war plan

A three-phased plan on rehabilitating Iraq was detailed in a report published by an Independent Working Group co-sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations and the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy of Rice University. The report was published late last year.

Following an attack against Iraq, says the "Guiding Principles for U.S.– Post Conflict Policy in Iraq," an emergency transitional government with Iraqi advisors, led by a U.S. Commander or coalition forces representative should govern the country for a short-term period of up to two months.

The emergency government's key objectives during this period should be the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, the establishment of law and order in the country, and the development of a "criteria for de-Saddamisation."

The report refuses to take a stance as to whether a war against Iraq should or should not be waged.

Nevertheless, the American government, emphasises the report, should address two critical issues: preparing the American public on possible terrorist attacks on U.S. soil and chalking out a blueprint of what to follow once the fighting ends in Iraq.

The three phases are categorised into short, medium and long-term periods. In the medium-term period, an internationally and UN-supervised Iraqi government should rule the country for the total duration of three to 24 months, recommends the report.

A senior American deputy should also be appointed and become involved in this phase. During the span of these two years, a new Iraqi leadership that will come to govern the country is to work closely with UN Secretary General's representative and the U.S. deputy.

The key objectives stipulated by the report to be achieved during this period indicate towards carrying out measures of "rehabilitating" Iraq on political, economic, humanitarian and security
levels.

In the third and final phase, the report foresees the establishment of a sovereign Iraqi government, one that is representative of the diversified Iraqi population.

At this stage, Iraq should be helped by the international community to become capable of fully re-enter the international community.