Who's Flexing The Muscle

Nov 19, 2005

I was interested in this cover photo in the NYT this week registering Koffi Annan's first visit to Iraq since the invasion. (To be specific, he touched down for a few hours.) Mostly, I was taken by the photo's "security-to-Koffi" ratio. ... And, the fact the guys guarding him looked like American special forces (or American contracted forces) rather than Iraqi faces.

In extracting political information and contradictions from news images, it's important not to take anything for granted. For example, if the Iraqi's are allegedly gaining charge of their country, is it possible there aren't a handful of elite homegrown soldiers available to guard (and therefore, pose with) the head of the organization of nations? Of course, this "entourage" is likely just one more reflection of who really runs the show.

Something I always find curious is how much the MSM refers to the Iraqi government as if it was fully autonomous. In most every story, it seems the media goes out of its way not to pull back the curtain on American control. That's why this article on Friday (Torture Charges Deepen Rift Between U.S. and Iraqi Leader - link) was particularly interesting.

In mid-week, as I'm sure most are aware, American soldiers accidently discovered that the Iraq Interior Ministry (effectively controlled by the Shiite Badr Organization, to which the Interior Minister, Bayan Jabr, is a member), had been running a secret torture operation in Baghdad. The fact that the prisoners were mostly Sunni raised a potentially disasterous situation with Parlimentary elections so near. After a weak response from the Prime Minister, Mr. Jabr took center stage and minimized the situation.

Notice how this section of The Times article illuminates who put a foot down:

...Mr. Jabr, speaking of the prison in an angry, sarcastic tone, said, "There has been much exaggeration about this issue." He added, "Nobody was beheaded or killed."

Later in the afternoon, the American Embassy issued its statement, saying that "detainee abuse is not and will not be tolerated." In addition, "We have made clear to the Iraqi government that there must not be militia or sectarian control or direction of Iraqi security forces, facilities or ministries."
If that doesn't sound like "the last word," I don't know how else characterize it. (The fact the Embassy issued "its" statement -- versus "a" statement" -- also had an evocative touch.)

And, just to make clear that the Prime Minister had everything straight (especially where his assistance would be coming from), there was also this passage:

Jim Bullock, an American Embassy spokesman, told reporters Thursday that Mr. Jaafari had agreed to form a commission to look into every Iraqi-run detention center in the country, and that employees of the Justice Department and the F.B.I. would help. "We're providing substantial resources to support the Iraqi efforts," he said.
It doesn't exactly say who Mr. Jaafari agreed with to form his commission, but never mind. At least he won't be lacking for "resources."

On second glance at the image, doesn't it seem like the muscle serves not just to "protect," but to enforce and stage manage the democratic facade?

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