U.S. warns Iraqis....

BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 23 — The American military moved today to strip Baghdad's self-appointed administrator of his authority and warned Iraqi factions not to take advantage of the confusion and the political void in the country by trying to grab power.

Lt. Gen. David McKiernan, the commander of ground forces in Iraq, issued a proclamation putting Iraq's politicians on notice, saying, "The coalition alone retains absolute authority within Iraq." He warned that anyone challenging the American-led authority would be subject to arrest.

Ooooh! I'll bet that really scares them!

Just what are we going to threaten to do if Iraqis don't behave? Starve them into submission? Cut off all power, water and food? Destroy their hospitals? Mow them down by the hundreds with our superior firepower, then bomb their cities to smithereens?

Uh-huh. Been there, done that and the natives are still gettin' uppity.

...Among those engaged in the rush for power were two longtime Iraqi exiles. American concern over the activities of these two men — Muhammad Mohsen Zobeidi and Ahmad Chalabi — has begun to grow, military officials said.

Wasn't Chalabi Bush's golden boy? ...How quickly the milk sours under the hot, Iraqi sun.

Zobeidi, whose qualifications for running Baghdad include participation in a "disaster control management course" arranged by the State Department--now there's a phrase that could describe Bush's reign in general--asserts that he was chosen to lead an executive council charged with administering Baghdad. He has allegedly moved to appoint a police chief, ignoring the police official installed by the Army's Third Infantry Division, while his supporters have been busy "appropriating" government vehicles.

Later, the article addresses the administration's about-face on Mr. Chalabi.

Some Bush administration officials, however, have been skeptical that Mr. Chalabi, who spent the past few decades in exile, would attract much of a following in iraq.[sic] And allied military officials have been concerned that Mr. Chalabi's men are throwing their weight around to build a political base for their leader.

Mr. Chalabi has about 700 fighters in his entourage who were flown to the Iraqi air base at Tallil several weeks ago by the American military at the request of Pentagon officials. American forces then scoured the country for arms and ammunition to equip the fighters so that they could participate in the campaign to oust Mr. Hussein.[Emphasis mine.]

American officials are now worried that some these men are being reorganized as a private security force for Mr. Chalabi and suspect they have been setting up their own checkpoints and even --gasp!-- detaining Iraqis.

Thus, mere weeks after establishing Mr. Chalabi's force, allied commanders are now planning to either demobilize it or place it formally under allied command. (Good luck!)

Up to now, we're lockstep with the familiar plan: appoint the puppet, uh, leader, set him up, arm him to the teeth, then sit back and wait. Until one day we realize--Ooops, we've created a monster! Then take him out. Although our reaction-time seems to be lightning quick in this instance.

Complete story here.