Iraq Parliament Ready To Take Up New Law Allowing Low-Level Members of Baath Party In Military, Government, Public Office

Isn't this one of those necessary steps towards political reconciliation the liberals have claimed to be required to demonstrate true progress in Iraq?

Iraq's cabinet has approved a redraft of a law that would allow lower ranking members of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein's Baath party to return to public office, a government official said Thursday.

The bill will set up an independent Justice and Accountability Commission which will recognise two categories of Baathists -- those in the lower ranks who committed no crimes and senior leaders who implemented the oppressive policies of the party.

"The bill prevents (senior) party members from being employed or practising any political job," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on national television late on Thursday.

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But lower ranked members would be allowed back into public life and into the military.

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"We hope that parliament will approve it as soon as possible to remove one of the points of tension," Dabbagh said.

The passing of the so-called de-Baathification law is one of 18 benchmarks set by the US government to measure political reconciliation in Iraq.

It should be noted that a previous version of the bill was stalled in the Parliament by Shiites determined not to allow any Baathists into any governmental position, so there's no guarantee this new draft will fare any better.

posted by Ace at 01:11 PM

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