USA: AMBASSADOR PAUL BREMER RETURNS TO WASHINGTON FOR CONSULTATIONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON HIS HANDLING OF THE POST- WAR IRAQ SITUATION.

Record ID: 648023

  • Title: USA: AMBASSADOR PAUL BREMER RETURNS TO WASHINGTON FOR CONSULTATIONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON HIS HANDLING OF THE POST- WAR IRAQ SITUATION.
  • Date: 11th November 2003
  • Summary: (U7) WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 11, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. VARIOUS: PAUL BREMER, U.S. CIVILIAN ADMINISTRATOR IN IRAQ WALKS TOWARD CAR AFTER TALKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE, OPENS BOOT OF CAR, WALKS INTO A WHITE HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING. (2 SHOTS) 1.05 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA86QA9JCRUZW2NHPB4LZRAEVQT
  • Story Text: Under pressure for his handling of post-war Iraq,
    Ambassador Paul Bremer returns to Washington for
    consultations at the White House.



    U.S. President George W. Bush's top man in Iraq,
    Paul Bremer, returned abruptly to Washington on Tuesday
    (November 11) for a White House meeting as the Bush
    administration considers changes in its postwar approach to
    the country.

    "When decisions need to be made, Bremer comes. Some
    decisions need to be made," one U.S. official told Reuters.

    The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said
    there was no expectation Bremer would be leaving his post.

    Bremer's return for what officials called
    "consultations" comes amid growing frustration in
    Washington with the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council
    and what some officials say is increasing friction with
    Bremer himself.

    With a recent surge in attacks on U.S.-led forces
    occupying Iraq, local people cooperating with them and
    international organisations, Washington has been seeking
    ways to reduce the U.S. presence and defuse hostility by
    shifting more control to Iraqis.

    Bremer left Baghdad for Washington on short notice and
    cancelled a meeting on Tuesday with visiting Polish Prime
    Minister Leszek Miller, the Polish delegation in Baghdad
    said.

    A senior administration official confirmed Bremer's
    meeting at the White House was over but declined to provide
    details. Bremer is "working with the governing council,"
    was all he would say.

    The administration is considering changes in the
    structure and timing of Iraq's transition to
    self-governance, including possible alternatives to the
    governing council to ensure the United States will be able
    to turn over power as troops are withdrawn, the Washington
    Post reported.

    U.S. officials have also been debating whether to
    reconstitute some units of the old Iraqi army to speed the
    buildup of indigenous security forces.

    Other officials told Reuters there was growing friction
    between Bremer and Washington over Bremer's resistance to
    accelerating the transfer of authority to Iraqis.



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