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A Change Of Plans For Iraq

Last week, Paul Bremer, the chief U.S. administrator in Iraq, traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with President George W. Bush. They discussed the future of Iraq.

In recent weeks, violence in the country has increased. Other countries and aid groups have scaled back their involvement. Many Iraqi citizens are frustrated and angry.

By Thursday, Bremer was back in Iraq with orders to speed up the process of setting up an Iraqi government. "We want the Iraqis to be more involved in the governance of their country," said the President.

The U.S. decision came on the heels of a devastating attack. On Wednesday, an explosion at the Italian headquarters in southern Iraq killed at least 32 Italian soldiers and Iraqi citizens and wounded 100.

Over the next few weeks, Bremer will work with the Iraqi governing council to create a new strategy for the transfer of power to Iraqis. The goal is to hold elections in the first half of 2004 and create a new government before a constitution is written. Until now, the U.S. had insisted that the constitution be completed first. That "could eat up a great deal of time," said Secretary of State Colin Powell, "more time than we think can be allowed."

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