There go the goalposts….
sov·er·eign·ty (svr-n-t, svrn-) n. Complete independence and self-government.
November 17, 2003
The Iraqi Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq (CPA) agreed November 15 on a process to hand over power to a transitional government in Iraq no later than July 2004.
The “Agreement on Political Process,” signed by CPA Administrator Paul Bremer and Jalal Talabani on behalf of the Governing Council, gives a timeline for steps the two political entities will take to establish a “Fundamental Law” for the country, make security arrangements, and form a Transitional National Assembly.
According to the agreement, the Assembly is to be elected by May 31, 2004, and the Governing Council will be dissolved upon its establishment. Also, the CPA will disband by June 30, 2004, when the Assembly is due to assume “full sovereign powers for governing Iraq.”
April 23, 2004
The Bush administration’s plans for a new caretaker government in Iraq would place severe limits on its sovereignty, including only partial command over its armed forces and no authority to enact new laws, administration officials said Thursday.
Make mine a Jack Daniels Manhattan, on the rocks, extra cherries, please.
Good choice of drinks, Edward. JD makes an excellent Manhattan.
I suppose one of the key questions is how much this change of plan has been necessary given the degradation of the situation.
Despite the haughty tone of the post, James, I consider this development beyond unfortunate. I believe the Administration is sincere in wanting to make Iraq a shining example of democracy in the Middle East, I just never believed they could do it on the time table they set with the awful planning they had. I also assume that they’d let Iraq go to hell in a handbasket if that’s what it’d take to get re-elected.
Re: JD: best Manhattan I’ve had…although I believe a true one’s made with Rye…but try finding Rye…and try getting a New York bartender to admit he’s not the world’s foremost expert on drinks…and if you’re really patient, try to get a New York bartender to make you an Old Fashioned…I’ve had dozens refuse…or worse hand me back something you’d expect on a third-rate cruise ship.
Agree JD is a good choice, but I cannot approve the extra cherries.
Another of the key questions is how much of the degredation of the situation was foreseen by military and other planners even before the invasion: are Bush & Co merely guilty of monumental stupidity, or did they intend this all along?
You know the real problem with the Bush administration: Either I’m left thinking “My God, how monumentally stupid are they?” or else I’m driven to believing in complex conspiracy theories because part of me would prefer that to believing they’re that stupid.
Anyway, Edward, sorry you won your bet, though I figured you were going to.
but I cannot approve the extra cherries
but stopping for dinner slows down the drinking…I can’t live on alcohol alone (maybe caffiene and sugar along, but not alcohol).
I agree with you about conspiracy theories…they’re the most generous response to much that the Bush Administration has “accomplished” in Iraq.
Does this have anything to do with the quiet racism of liberals who don’t think Iraqis are capable of Democracy? Sorry, I’m just confused about why we are there.
Make mine something strong, straight and neat. And in a needle if that makes it work any faster.
Wow. I actually agree with Edward on something. Good Canadian rye whiskey in a Manhattan, that is.
Brand names Nathan?
Most bartenders look at me like I’m speaking Swahili if I ask for one with rye…
Edward,
Some of the best Rye you’ll find is distilled by Anchor Distilling in my fair city by the bay.
If the establishment you’ve chosen carries Old Potrero, make sure its the “Rye” not the “Spirit”.
Cheers!
Bye, bye, iraqi sovereignty, guys;
Paid chalabi with the levy but the levy was dry;
And good old Ed, drinking JD and rye;
Singing “this’ll be the day that I cry.”
Just a question, how do the logistics of the beverage buying work?
As a Canadian, I have to comment on using Rye Whisky in a Manhatten – YUK, too sweet. I only use American Bourbon in mine. JDs, usually. One of the finest products America has ever produced, with the noteable exception of Looney Tunes cartoons.
I should also point out that it’s a common misconception that Canadian Whiskies are Rye Whiskies. They’re mostly made with corn. American Rye Whiskies by law must be made with at least 51% rye grain, whereas there’s no such requirement in Canada, which accounts for the sweetness of Canadian “Rye” Whiskies.
Oh wait, this was a POLITICAL post. Yeah, I’m not surprised that the goalposts were moved. What else can they do? And Edward, while you say “I believe the Administration is sincere in wanting to make Iraq a shining example of democracy in the Middle East…”, I’m really starting to wonder. Especially now that Negroponte is going there…
Bremer: “Ambassador, this is an unexpected pleasure. We are honored by your presence -”
Negroponte: “You may dispense with the pleasantries, Administrator. I’m here to put you back on schedule.”
Bremer: “I assure you, Ambassador. My men are working as fast as they can.”
Negroponte: “Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them…”
Bremer: “I tell you, this country will be operational as planned.”
Negroponte: “The President does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation.”
Bremer: “But, he asks the impossible. I need more men!”
Negroponte: “He is most displeased with your apparent lack of progress.”
Bremer: “We shall double our efforts!”
Negroponte: “I hope so, Administrator, for your sake. The President is not as forgiving as I am.”
Many thanks Crionna…I’ll let you know how my first true Manhattan went down…should I find Old Potrero.
Cheers!
Everybody (I think) seems to be missing the point here. I think this is partly a good thing.
This is the doing of Sistani. He allowed the delay in full elections (until whenever) in exchange for this, which means the caretaker gov’t has little real power. Like the power to sign treaties giving the US 50 years of basing rights. Like the power to sell off the power grid.
Etc.
And Edward, while you say “I believe the Administration is sincere in wanting to make Iraq a shining example of democracy in the Middle East…”, I’m really starting to wonder.
hmmm…perhaps a distinction is in order.
I believe Bush is sincere in wanting to make Iraq a shining example of democracy in the Middle East.
I’m just not sure Bush is actually calling the shots.
And won’t Bremer and Negroponte pass like ships in the night…sneering perhaps, but certainly not collaborating in any way?
strangers in the night … exchanging death squads
asdf,
LOL
In a musical sort of mood today?
I can’t read the article, so tough to comment. Which caretaker government is this? The one that’s in place now, or the one that’s supposed to be in place until late 2005?
It’s the next one that’s supposed to be in place unti 2005…the one Bremer said would assume “full sovereign powers for governing Iraq.”
By the way, was I the only one who noticed that the State department said it needed to fill 142 jobs, and around 200 people applied? That doesn’t seem like a great number to me.
I’ll let you know how my first true Manhattan went down…should I find Old Potrero.
Not to betray my beloved Bay Area, but try it with Old Overholt instead. I’ve never had Old Potrero per se, but I’ve had some of the stuff Fritz Maytag was futzing around with before he decided to go ahead and actually produce Old Potrero commercially, and let’s just say it could use a few more years in the barrel.
I only use American Bourbon in mine. JDs, usually.
Don’t ever let a Tennesseean hear you say that, double-plus-ungood. JD is Tennessee Whiskey, not not not bourbon.
Slarti, here’s another bit from the article:
Obviously I’m not enough of an expert to say how predictable it was that the situation would get this bad unless certain steps were taken – but I guess Edward’s bet was actually a pretty safe one; and has been for some time.
Have had a Manhattan with Canadian Club Whiskey… didn’t think it was as good as the JD ones.
Josh: “Don’t ever let a Tennesseean hear you say that, double-plus-ungood. JD is Tennessee Whiskey, not not not bourbon.”
I checked, you’re right. I guess you learn something new every day. But I can probably be forgiven, the Bourbon FAQ says “…up to and after the charcoal filtering, the Jack Daniel’s production is much the same as any other Bourbon. Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel are two fine Tennessee Whiskeys though neither can be called bourbon.”
So I’ve never tried Bourbon. Access to alcohol is restricted to government sources here in British Columbia, so we can only get the stuff that they stock. I’ll have to look around in the bigger stores for the real stuff.
Any recommendations for an honest-to-goodness Kentucky Bourbon?
Any recommendations for an honest-to-goodness Kentucky Bourbon?
Maker’s Mark or Woodford Reserve for mixed drinks. Baker’s or (preferably) Booker’s for drinking straight. (Booker’s is cask strength, though, so you may want to mix it with water.)
Edward,
Most any popular rye is fine to me. I like Wiser’s, but I find that it doesn’t matter too much.
It’s funny, I had never thought of making a Manhattan with anything but rye. I will have to try with something else.
As for the turnover, all I can say is that hopefully a functional democratic state will be delayed, not denied.
Oh, and luckily I live in the land of the free (Alberta). We have access to many different types of liquor. Why we ever had government-run liquor stores, I cannot say.
Must second the Makers Mark recommendation. As a Kentuckian, I’ve gotta say that nothing else compares. Especially any of the pretenders south of the border. 🙂
Josh, Double Golds, Silvers etc. for Anchor Distilling from the SF World Spirits Fest would hint that you might like to give Fritz’s hootch a try now that they’re in production.
And a third to Maker’s Mark.
poison, it’s all poison.
I heard Eddie is going to have a Manhattan, well I’m probably too late but Old Overholt is the longstanding choice.
On whiskey (or wiskey) MM is excellent in Old Fashions but if you want it straight Platt Valley Corn Whiskey is excellent unless the revenuers shut it down.
Platt Valley Corn Whiskey is excellent unless the revenuers shut it down.
Sounds like moonshine, eh? My brother got me some good ol Alabama moonshine once…my esophagus is still recovering.
Now that the threadjacking is truly complete…
and if you’re really patient, try to get a New York bartender to make you an Old Fashioned…I’ve had dozens refuse…or worse hand me back something you’d expect on a third-rate cruise ship.
For some reason, the Old Fashioned is the mixed drink of Wisconsin. [It used to be the Manhattan about forty years ago; I don’t know when it switched.] You can get some mighty tasty ones out here and, indeed, I had one last night. It’s all in the muddling…