Former Iraqi PM: Bush an 'Utter Failure'

Allawi had been appointed by US after Saddam's fall

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 3, 2009 4:20 PM CST

(Newser) – The Iraqi prime minister installed by Washington after the fall of Saddam Hussein has blasted President Bush’s policies as an “utter failure,” Reuters reports. In an interview with an Arab newspaper, Iyad Allawi said Bush’s “insistence on names like ‘democracy’ and ‘open elections,’ without giving attention to political stability, was a big mistake” that prompted ruinous sectarian violence.

"Yes, Bush's policies failed utterly," said Allawi. "Failure of US domestic and foreign policy, including fighting terrorism and economic policy." He also blasted Iraq’s current PM for running a government characterized by “weak performance" and corruption. “Four years passed and they can't build the police, army, national institutions.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi denounced the policies of President George W. Bush as an "utter failure" that gave rise to the sectarian venom that ravaged his country. (AP Photo/Nader Daoud)

President George W. Bush and Iraq's then interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi speak to reporters in the Rose Garden at the White House, September 23, 2004, in Washington DC. (Getty Images)

Iraq's former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi criticized the country's current PM Nuri al Maliki, saying his government has been characterized by "weak performance." (AP Photo)

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Ending Saddam's regime was essential, but replacing the Saddam regime with extreme chaos was not right. - Iyad Allawi, former Iraqi prime minister

I did not imagine the political process would eat itself from inside or that it would abandon the rule of law and establish political sectarianism. - Iyad Allawi, former Iraqi prime minister

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 6 comments

Guest

Jan 6, 2009 1:43 AM CST

LOL. That all?

Newser001

Jan 3, 2009 11:33 PM CST

Corruption / bribes is a way of life in the Middle-East. Anyone who believes' otherwise, is simply a fool. It is their culture, society where such behavior is engrained and tolerated. And who are we to demand change where we have no business anyway? I don't approve of it, finding it despicable, but if you look around, the vast majority of nations and signatories, operate in such mannerisms - some less obvious, others, blatantly - even the good old USA.

jaguarj

Jan 3, 2009 10:50 PM CST

Allawi, that is....

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Iraq • Saddam Hussein • sectarian violence • Nouri al-Maliki • democracy • Iyad Allawi • free elections • George W. Bush

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Former Iraqi PM: Bush an 'Utter Failure'