The Command Post - Iraq - U.S. Says Does Not Recognize Baghdad 'Governor'

April 21, 2003

U.S. Says Does Not Recognize Baghdad 'Governor'

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States does not recognize a former exile who says he is governor of Baghdad and Washington thinks his deputy cannot represent Iraq at an OPEC meeting this week, a senior U.S. official said on Monday.

Barbara Bodine, coordinator for central Iraq in the U.S. civil administration supervising the country's reconstruction, said Washington did not recognize Mohammed Mohsen al-Zubaidi.

"We don't really know much about him except that he's declared himself mayor," said Bodine, a former U.S. ambassador to Yemen. "We don't recognize him. There hasn't been a process of selection. Once there's a process, then whomever."

Zubaidi's self-styled deputy, Jawdat al-Obeidi, told Reuters on Sunday he would lead an Iraqi delegation to a meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries starting on Thursday in Vienna.

"He can't," said Bodine during a visit to Baghdad by Jay Garner, the U.S. civilian administrator for postwar Iraq. "I don't think OPEC would take him. We wouldn't prevent him but I would find it odd that OPEC would accept him as a representative," she said.

Posted By Wind Rider at April 21, 2003 06:25 AM | TrackBack

Comment Policy and Decency Standards
: The comments here serve as an open forum in which you are encouraged to debate, discuss and post relevant links. It is Command Post policy that we will not tolerate any racial or ethnic slurs or obvious attempts to bait other guests of this site into a battle. We provide you the space here to discuss the topic at hand and to engage in lively discourse. Please remember that your IP is logged every time you leave a comment and the editors of Command Post reserve the right to terminate you ability to comment here if you do not conform to our commenting policy. Thank you.

Mohammed Mohsen al-Zubaidi in Arabic means man with testicles even bigger than his fantasy. :)

Whats next...self proclaimed 'King forever'?

Posted by: Jeff B at April 21, 2003 08:16 AM

I've already registered Potentate, Czar, Emperor, Generalissimo, etc. of Iraq, and I'm getting my private army together. The French, Russians, Syrians, Germans, Saudis, and OPEC recognized me after I agreed to respect their contracts and award new ones. The U.N. has given me assurances that it wants me to play a promanent role in the new Iraq. So all you other would-be plunderers can forget about it.

Posted by: Stevesrevenge at April 21, 2003 11:50 AM

Stevesrevenge: Can I have a job as a whining, cringing, sycophant? Huh, huh? Can I? The retirement sucks, but the perks look good while it lasts! LOL

Posted by: Jrm at April 21, 2003 07:48 PM

This guy is going to try to be the biggest 'monkey wrench' he can be. I read something yesterday about him telling the Iraqis that his people were working hard on getting the power turned back on and the water running. Maximum weasel.

Posted by: Jeff B at April 21, 2003 10:18 PM

this "maximum weasil"/huckster rainmaker needs to have an "accident"

others that need to have the last accident they will ever have,

a whole lot of islamofascist shia mullahs recently back from a long stint doing thier hate america kill the great satan america routine to a packed house in Iran.

Posted by: rumcrook at April 21, 2003 11:06 PM