We do not issue threats. The opposition can be inside and outside the government. This is a sound democratic [practice] that exists worldwide.

People don’t like bases. If bases are absolutely necessary, if there’s a perceived threat … but I don’t think even Iran will be a threat.

I think people are rapidly losing confidence in the political class, and I don’t blame them.

It is my duty to the Iraqi people in order to preserve the credibility of the democratic process.

probably had been some incidents of over-reaction.

There are signs that there will be agreement on all problems concerning formation of the government.

He seemed to be unrepentant, and there was no remorse or even sometimes there was a hint of defiance. Sometimes, he wasn’t very coherent.

The goal is to reach a mutual agreement for all the three important posts. If we fail to reach it the deal may be divided into stages and this means that we will vote for...

It won’t be a question of how well-trained or well-equipped the army is but one of the authority it serves.

the election of the members of the transitional council will have to be ended by the end of May.

I see it as my duty toward the Iraqi people, and to protect the credibility of the democratic experiment, to set a date.

Discussions are going on among all parliamentary lists to reach a conclusion on the main three posts before going to Monday’s session of parliament.

will hasten the end of the acts of violence that have been perpetuated recently.

Leaders of political parties have agreed to postpone parliament. There are still some issues that have not been resolved yet.

Until and unless we could disband these militias, this country won’t be able to function properly.

The political parties and groups that did not take part in the election should be invited to participate in the writing of the permanent constitution.

Anybody who has a militia now has power. The Mahdi Army, Badr, the insurgents, these are the ones who wield power. They have weapons, they can move around and they are determined. It’s not a...

I believe if we give ourselves this time, we will be able to succeed in forming a national unity government which people have been waiting for.

Many people in Iraq, that segment of Iraqi opinion, believes that there should be a determined effort to see whether in fact that elections are feasible,

If we give ourselves this amount of time, we might succeed, and I am sure that we will succeed to form a government of national unity, which the people have been waiting for, for so...

If the security forces continue to be dominated as they are now by political groups or sects, then the people won’t trust in them – and the result will be civil war or fragmentation of...

There were some elements in the Iraqi political class who were against me.

The United Nations presents to us recommendations, not decisions, and we are to decide if we accept these recommendations or not,

I spoke to the heads of all the political blocs and I sensed a true intent from all to push the political process forward. From now until the 17th of this month, we believe there...

They want to inject religion into everything, which is not right. I cannot imagine that we might have a theocratic regime in Iraq like the one in Iran. That would be a disaster.

We only had Kalashnikov rifles. Now we have more powerful weapons.

This polarization has to end. Otherwise it could lead to disaster for the country.

[On April 14], the political blocs started to discuss candidates for the posts and formed a committee to discuss the details of the distribution of the posts. The committee met yesterday [April 15] and it...

I believe that we will succeed in forming the national unity government the people are waiting for.

We have to tell the world there will be no civil war among the Iraqi people. The risk is there.

has been far greater than we had expected.

There are other volunteers who take turns, up to 50 of us here.

We were disappointed, naturally, because of the very small, low turnout in many areas, … It made it impossible for us to be represented on the National Assembly.

The two main issues are security and the necessity for an inclusive election.

We will have at the end of this process a government that derives its legitimacy from the free desire of the Iraqi people,

Perhaps we should make it into a school or a hospital. It symbolized the mentality of Saddam Hussein, and then it also became the symbol of everything that went wrong during the occupation.

I am confident we will succeed in forming the national unity government that all Iraqis are hoping for.

I don’t know much about him and a lot of people don’t know much about him.

You can imagine how everybody is scared. Finally it’s sinking in that something has to be done. You can’t let this thing go completely unattended.

It is in our interest to expedite the whole process.

About Tariq Aziz, I don’t know when and if a trial will be held,

The security forces are perceived by many Iraqis as being under the influence of these militias. There seems to be empirical evidence that especially the Interior Ministry have been infiltrated by these forces, no doubt.

It will have due process and the right of appeal and be an open trial with attorneys and lawyers, something that is really unprecedented in Iraq’s recent history and quite a contrast from the courts...

It’s a struggle for power.

This contest between the secular and religious visions of government is really the main choice to be made. It won’t be decided in one election, but it is a basic choice between an open and...

The choice of ministers should not be because they are party loyalists or belong to religious groups, but rather because of experience and competency. Iraq needs this.

I will call on parliament in the next few days.

We have to prove to the world that a civil war is not and will not take place among our people. The danger is still looming and the enemies are ready for us because they...

Everybody seems to be imprisoned in their own sectarian or political affiliations. They don’t seem to be able to rise above these things.

We found him tired, haggard, and obviously a spent force,