The Bremer Edicts

If you're interested in the edicts of former Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) head Paul Bremmer, they can be found at the website of the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

Two assessments of interest:

Do the Bremer edicts limit Iraq's sovereignty?
To a degree. Two in particular impose significant restrictions, says Nathan Brown, a professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University and the author of a recent article on Bremer’s rulings. Order 17 grants immunity from Iraqi law to all members of the U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq, as well as to foreign contractors and diplomats. Order 57 establishes independent inspectors general in every Iraqi ministry who are authorized to conduct investigations, audits, evaluations, and other reviews. The Bremer-appointed inspectors serve five-year terms.

What is the process for changing the Bremer rules?
Allawi and his Council of Ministers propose a change that legally supercedes one of Bremer’s edicts and win the unanimous approval of the Presidential Council. However, a 100-member Iraqi National Council, due to be formed in July, can veto any Allawi decision if two-thirds of the council oppose it. Once an elected government is in place after January 2005, law-making authority will shift to a 275-member transitional assembly.

Order 17 is the one that appears to let Blackwater and everybody else off the hook for any and everything they do, including all US contractors, for any and every dollar they steal. Order 17 should be named the "Heads I Win/Tails You Lose" order.

But I'm sure it's an immense relief to the Iraqis to know that Bremmer apppointees are keeping watch over their dinars and their oil.