Iraqis Fail to Be Impressed by Choice of New P.M.

Finally, someone bothered to ask the Iraqis what they think of their new prime minister. From Reuters:

News that Iyad Allawi had been chosen as interim prime minister on Friday did little to cheer many Iraqis who dismissed him as an outsider lacking the political experience to lead the country out of post-war chaos.

"What is his political experience? I know nothing about him. He lived abroad as an exile. We need someone who lived here who can pull Iraq out of a crisis," said a hotel manager who declined to give his name.

"Iraq is the same as it was in the time of Saddam Hussein except now I am afraid of militiamen so I can't say my name."