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{{BLP sources|date=February 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Jay Garner
| name = Jay Garner
|image = JAY GARNER.JPG
| image = JAY GARNER.JPG
|caption = Jay Garner, 2003
| caption = Garner in 2003
|office = [[Coalition Provisional Authority|Director of the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance of Iraq]]
| office = [[Coalition Provisional Authority|Director of the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance of Iraq]]
|president = [[George W. Bush]]
| president = [[George W. Bush]]
|term_start = April 21, 2003
| term_start = April 21, 2003
|term_end = May 12, 2003
| term_end = May 12, 2003
|predecessor = [[Saddam Hussein]] (as [[President of Iraq]])
| predecessor = [[Saddam Hussein]] (as [[President of Iraq]])
|successor = [[Paul Bremer]] (as Administrator of the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]])
| successor = [[Paul Bremer]] (as Administrator of the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]])
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|4|15}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|4|15}}
|birth_place = [[Arcadia, Florida]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Arcadia, Florida]], U.S.
|death_date =
| death_date =
|death_place =
| death_place =
|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]]
|education = [[Florida State University]] {{ubl|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania|Shippensburg University]] ([[Master of Public Administration|MPA]])}}
| education = [[Florida State University]] {{ubl|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania|Shippensburg University]] ([[Master of Public Administration|MPA]])}}
|allegiance = United States
| allegiance = United States
|branch = [[United States Army]]
| branch = [[United States Army]]
|serviceyears = 1962–1997
| serviceyears = 1962–1997
|rank = [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]]
| rank = [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]]
|commands = {{ubl|[[United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command]]|[[Joint Task Force Bravo]]|[[108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (United States)|108th Brigade, 32nd Artillery Command]]}}
| commands = {{ubl|[[United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command]]|[[Joint Task Force Bravo]]|[[108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (United States)|108th Brigade, 32nd Artillery Command]]}}
|battles ={{ubl| [[Vietnam War]]|[[Gulf War]]}}
| battles = {{ubl| [[Vietnam War]]|[[Gulf War]]}}
|mawards = {{ubl|[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2)|[[Defense Superior Service Medal]] (2)|[[Legion of Merit]] (5)|[[Bronze Star Medal]]}}
| mawards = {{ubl|[[Army Distinguished Service Medal]] (2)|[[Defense Superior Service Medal]] (2)|[[Legion of Merit]] (5)|[[Bronze Star Medal]]}}
}}
}}
'''Jay Montgomery Garner''' (born April 15, 1938) is a retired [[United States Army]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] who in 2003 was appointed as Director of the [[Coalition Provisional Authority|Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance]] for [[Iraq]] following the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], making him the immediate replacement of [[Saddam Hussein]] as the ''de facto'' head of state of Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-04-04 |title=Jay Garner: The US general waiting to replace Saddam |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jay-garner-the-us-general-waiting-to-replace-saddam-113811.html |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Garner was soon replaced by Ambassador [[Paul Bremer]] and the ambassador's successor organization to [[ORHA]], the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (CPA).<ref>[http://www.observer.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,925309,00.html US arms trader to run Iraq] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030601122652/http://www.observer.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,925309,00.html |date=2003-06-01 }} ''[[The Observer]]'', March 30, 2003.</ref>
'''Jay Montgomery Garner''' (born April 15, 1938) is a retired [[United States Army]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] who in 2003 was appointed as Director of the [[Coalition Provisional Authority|Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance]] for [[Iraq]] following the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], making him the immediate replacement of [[Saddam Hussein]] as the ''de facto'' head of state of Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-04-04 |title=Jay Garner: The US general waiting to replace Saddam |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jay-garner-the-us-general-waiting-to-replace-saddam-113811.html |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Garner was soon replaced by Ambassador [[Paul Bremer]] and the ambassador's successor organization to [[ORHA]], the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (CPA).<ref>[http://www.observer.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,925309,00.html US arms trader to run Iraq] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030601122652/http://www.observer.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,925309,00.html |date=2003-06-01 }} ''[[The Observer]]'', March 30, 2003.</ref>
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In 2003 Garner was selected to [[Civilian Administrator of Iraq|lead]] the [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–present|post-war reconstruction efforts in Iraq]], along with three deputies, including British [[Major-General (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Tim Cross]]. Garner was regarded as a natural choice by the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] given his earlier similar role in the north. General Garner was to develop and implement plans to assist the Iraqis in developing governance and reconstructing the country once [[Saddam Hussein]] was deposed.<ref name="Lawrence Davidson 2006">Arthur Goldschmidt Jr. and Lawrence Davidson, ''A Concise History of the Middle East'' (Westview Press, 2006), 432–438</ref>
In 2003 Garner was selected to [[Civilian Administrator of Iraq|lead]] the [[Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–present|post-war reconstruction efforts in Iraq]], along with three deputies, including British [[Major-General (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Tim Cross]]. Garner was regarded as a natural choice by the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] given his earlier similar role in the north. General Garner was to develop and implement plans to assist the Iraqis in developing governance and reconstructing the country once [[Saddam Hussein]] was deposed.<ref name="Lawrence Davidson 2006">Arthur Goldschmidt Jr. and Lawrence Davidson, ''A Concise History of the Middle East'' (Westview Press, 2006), 432–438</ref>


Following the defeat of the Saddam Hussein regime in [[Baghdad]], there was widespread looting, rampaging, and general chaos throughout [[Iraq]]. Some of the most important [[monument]]s, such as the [[National museum of iraq|national museum]], were under attack.<ref name="Lawrence Davidson 2006"/> Furthermore, the [[infrastructure]] of the country was in ruins, ministries were broken into, and government records were destroyed. The situation in Iraq became chaotic and [[Anarchy|anarchic]].<ref name="Deborah Gerner 2008">Jillian Schwedler and Deborah Gerner, eds., ''Understanding the Contemporary: Middle East'' (Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2008), 248–251</ref> The only ministry which was protected by the occupying forces was the [[Ministry of Oil (Iraq)|oil ministry]]. In addition, many exiled leaders from [[Iran]] and some from the [[Western world|West]] returned to [[Iraq]].<ref>Jack Covarrubias and Tom Lansford, eds., ''Strategic Interests in the Middle East: Opposition or Support for US Foreign Policy'' (Ashgate Publishing Company, 2007), 74–76</ref> The [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush Administration]] selected [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] Jay Garner to lead the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (an intermediary government) in an attempt to rid [[Iraq]] of the chaos and anarchy that consumed the area. Garner's plan was to choose government officials from the former Iraqi regime to help lead the country.<ref name="Brian Bennett 2003">Brian Bennett, Joshua Kucera, Terry Mccarthy, Michael Weisskopf and Mark Thompson, "Sorting The Bad From The Not So Bad," ''Time'', May 19, 2003.</ref>
Following the defeat of the Saddam Hussein regime in [[Baghdad]], there was widespread looting, rampaging, and general chaos throughout [[Iraq]]. Some of the most important [[monument]]s, such as the [[National museum of iraq|national museum]], were under attack.<ref name="Lawrence Davidson 2006"/> Furthermore, the [[infrastructure]] of the country was in ruins, ministries were broken into, and government records were destroyed. The situation in Iraq became chaotic and [[Anarchy|anarchic]].<ref name="Deborah Gerner 2008">Jillian Schwedler and Deborah Gerner, eds., ''Understanding the Contemporary: Middle East'' (Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2008), 248–251</ref> The only ministry which was protected by the occupying forces was the [[Ministry of Oil (Iraq)|oil ministry]]. In addition, many exiled leaders from [[Iran]] and some from the [[Western world|West]] returned to [[Iraq]].<ref>Jack Covarrubias and Tom Lansford, eds., ''Strategic Interests in the Middle East: Opposition or Support for US Foreign Policy'' (Ashgate Publishing Company, 2007), 74–76</ref> The [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] selected [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] Jay Garner to lead the [[Coalition Provisional Authority]] (an intermediary government) in an attempt to rid [[Iraq]] of the chaos and anarchy that consumed the area. Garner's plan was to choose government officials from the former Iraqi regime to help lead the country.<ref name="Brian Bennett 2003">Brian Bennett, Joshua Kucera, Terry Mccarthy, Michael Weisskopf and Mark Thompson, "Sorting The Bad From The Not So Bad," ''Time'', May 19, 2003.</ref>


Garner began reconstruction efforts in March 2003 with plans aiming for Iraqis to hold [[election]]s within 90 days and for the [[United States|U.S.]] to quickly pull troops out of the cities to a desert base. [[Jalal Talabani]], a member of Jay Garner's staff in [[Kuwait]] before the war, was consulted on several occasions to help the U.S. select a liberal Iraqi government; this would be the first liberal government to exist in [[Iraq]]. In an interview with [[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]], Garner stated that "as in any [[Totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime, there were many people who needed to join the [[Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction)|Baath Party]] in order to get ahead in their careers. We don't have a problem with most of them. But we do have a problem with those who were part of the thug mechanism under Saddam. Once the U.S. identifies those in the second group, we will get rid of them."<ref name="Brian Bennett 2003"/> On April 15, 2003, General Garner called a conference in the city of [[Nasiriyah]], where Garner, along with 100 Iraqis, discussed the future of Iraq. Garner called a follow-up meeting on April 28, 2003.<ref name="Lawrence Davidson 2006"/> 250 Iraqis attended this meeting, and five of these Iraqis were selected by Garner's administration as the core leaders of the new Iraqi government: [[Masoud Barzani|Masood Barzani]] was appointed as head of the [[Kurdistan Democratic Party]], Talabani as head of the rival [[Patriotic Union of Kurdistan]], [[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim|Abdul Aziz Al Hakim]] was appointed as the leader of the Supreme Assembly for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, [[Ahmed Chalabi|Ahmad Chalabi]] was chosen to represent the [[Iraqi National Congress]] and [[Ayad Allawi|Iyad Allawi]] was appointed as the leader of the [[Iraqi National Accord]]. Garner's selection caused quite a stir amongst many Iraqis. Although many Iraqis were open to the change that Garner and the U.S. were bringing to Iraq, others were resentful. Iraqis with a [[Shia Islam|Shi'a]] background felt underrepresented in Garner's selection for government.<ref name="Iraq 2003">"Iraq: Entering a new epoch," ''Middle East'', June 2003.</ref> Three of the five officials appointed as key members in Iraq's new government were of [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] background, one official was from a mixed Sunni–Shi'a background, and only one of the officials was of pure Shi'a background. The Shi'a felt left out and underrepresented, considering they comprise over 60% of the Iraqi population.<ref name="Iraq 2003"/> Furthermore, many Iraqis felt this new government was not selected in a [[Democracy|democratic]] manner, as the [[U.S.]] had promised.
Garner began reconstruction efforts in March 2003 with plans aiming for Iraqis to hold [[election]]s within 90 days and for the [[United States|U.S.]] to quickly pull troops out of the cities to a desert base. [[Jalal Talabani]], a member of Jay Garner's staff in [[Kuwait]] before the war, was consulted on several occasions to help the U.S. select a liberal Iraqi government; this would be the first liberal government to exist in [[Iraq]]. In an interview with [[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]], Garner stated that "as in any [[Totalitarianism|totalitarian]] regime, there were many people who needed to join the [[Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction)|Baath Party]] in order to get ahead in their careers. We don't have a problem with most of them. But we do have a problem with those who were part of the thug mechanism under Saddam. Once the U.S. identifies those in the second group, we will get rid of them."<ref name="Brian Bennett 2003"/> On April 15, 2003, General Garner called a conference in the city of [[Nasiriyah]], where Garner, along with 100 Iraqis, discussed the future of Iraq. Garner called a follow-up meeting on April 28, 2003.<ref name="Lawrence Davidson 2006"/> 250 Iraqis attended this meeting, and five of these Iraqis were selected by Garner's administration as the core leaders of the new Iraqi government: [[Masoud Barzani|Masood Barzani]] was appointed as head of the [[Kurdistan Democratic Party]], Talabani as head of the rival [[Patriotic Union of Kurdistan]], [[Abdul Aziz al-Hakim|Abdul Aziz Al Hakim]] was appointed as the leader of the Supreme Assembly for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, [[Ahmed Chalabi|Ahmad Chalabi]] was chosen to represent the [[Iraqi National Congress]] and [[Ayad Allawi|Iyad Allawi]] was appointed as the leader of the [[Iraqi National Accord]]. Garner's selection caused quite a stir amongst many Iraqis. Although many Iraqis were open to the change that Garner and the U.S. were bringing to Iraq, others were resentful. Iraqis with a [[Shia Islam|Shi'a]] background felt underrepresented in Garner's selection for government.<ref name="Iraq 2003">"Iraq: Entering a new epoch," ''Middle East'', June 2003.</ref> Three of the five officials appointed as key members in Iraq's new government were of [[Sunni Islam|Sunni]] background, one official was from a mixed Sunni–Shi'a background, and only one of the officials was of pure Shi'a background. The Shi'a felt left out and underrepresented, considering they comprise over 60% of the Iraqi population.<ref name="Iraq 2003"/> Furthermore, many Iraqis felt this new government was not selected in a [[Democracy|democratic]] manner, as the [[U.S.]] had promised.
Once the leaders were selected, a plan to hold elections in Iraq, where members would be selected, began on May 6, 2003 and ended on November 14, 2003, when the plan was abandoned.<ref name="Deborah Gerner 2008"/> General Garner would be replaced by a new [[Ambassadors of the United States|American Ambassador]] to Iraq, [[Paul Bremer]], who took his role as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority. Following Garner's dismissal, it was planned that an Iraq government would take power in June 2004. [[Ayad Allawi|Iyad Allawi]] was designated to lead the Iraqi interim authority. Allawi was a former [[Baathist]] of [[Shia Islam|Shi'a]] origin. Allawi had many credentials, including previous work experience with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].<ref name="Lawrence Davidson 2006"/>
Once the leaders were selected, a plan to hold elections in Iraq, where members would be selected, began on May 6, 2003, and ended on November 14, 2003, when the plan was abandoned.<ref name="Deborah Gerner 2008"/> General Garner would be replaced by a new [[Ambassadors of the United States|American Ambassador]] to Iraq, [[Paul Bremer]], who took his role as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority. Following Garner's dismissal, it was planned that an Iraq government would take power in June 2004. [[Ayad Allawi|Iyad Allawi]] was designated to lead the Iraqi interim authority. Allawi was a former [[Baathist]] of [[Shia Islam|Shi'a]] origin. Allawi had many credentials, including previous work experience with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].<ref name="Lawrence Davidson 2006"/>


When Garner was replaced in his role by [[L. Paul Bremer|Paul Bremer]] on May 11, 2003, there was quite a bit of speculation as to why he was replaced so abruptly. It has been suggested that Garner was moved aside because he did not agree with the [[White House]] about who should decide how to reconstruct Iraq. He wanted early elections—90 days after the fall of [[Baghdad]]—and the new government to decide how to run the country and what to do with its assets. Garner said "I don't think [Iraqis] need to go by the [[U.S.]] plan, I think that what we need to do is set an Iraqi government that represents the freely elected will of the people. It's their country ... their oil."<ref name=Znet060610>[[Greg Palast]], "[http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=10399 Unreported: The Zarqawi Invitation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618005914/http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=10399 |date=2006-06-18 }}", ''[[ZNet]]'', June 10, 2006</ref> Some experts faulted Garner for prioritizing elections over improving and [[privatizing]] the Iraqi economy.<ref name="Dilip Hiro">Dilip Hiro, The Nation, September 28, 2007, "How Bush's Iraqi Oil Grab Went Awry" https://www.thenation.com/article/how-bushs-iraqi-oil-grab-went-awry/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327184028/https://www.thenation.com/article/how-bushs-iraqi-oil-grab-went-awry/ |date=2019-03-27 }}</ref>
When Garner was replaced in his role by [[L. Paul Bremer|Paul Bremer]] on May 11, 2003, there was quite a bit of speculation as to why he was replaced so abruptly. It has been suggested that Garner was moved aside because he did not agree with the [[White House]] about who should decide how to reconstruct Iraq. He wanted early elections—90 days after the fall of [[Baghdad]]—and the new government to decide how to run the country and what to do with its assets. Garner said "I don't think [Iraqis] need to go by the [[U.S.]] plan, I think that what we need to do is set an Iraqi government that represents the freely elected will of the people. It's their country ... their oil."<ref name=Znet060610>[[Greg Palast]], "[http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=10399 Unreported: The Zarqawi Invitation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618005914/http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=10399 |date=2006-06-18 }}", ''[[ZNet]]'', June 10, 2006</ref> Some experts faulted Garner for prioritizing elections over improving and [[privatizing]] the Iraqi economy.<ref name="Dilip Hiro">Dilip Hiro, The Nation, September 28, 2007, "How Bush's Iraqi Oil Grab Went Awry" https://www.thenation.com/article/how-bushs-iraqi-oil-grab-went-awry/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327184028/https://www.thenation.com/article/how-bushs-iraqi-oil-grab-went-awry/ |date=2019-03-27 }}</ref>

Revision as of 11:45, 29 July 2024

For the actor, see Jay Garner (actor).
Jay Garner
Garner in 2003
Director of the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance of Iraq
In office
April 21, 2003 – May 12, 2003
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded bySaddam Hussein (as President of Iraq)
Succeeded byPaul Bremer (as Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority)
Personal details
Born (1938-04-15) April 15, 1938 (age 86)
Arcadia, Florida, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationFlorida State University
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1962–1997
RankLieutenant General
Commands
Battles/wars
Awards

Jay Montgomery Garner (born April 15, 1938) is a retired United States Army lieutenant general who in 2003 was appointed as Director of the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for Iraq following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, making him the immediate replacement of Saddam Hussein as the de facto head of state of Iraq.[1] Garner was soon replaced by Ambassador Paul Bremer and the ambassador's successor organization to ORHA, the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA).[2]

Early life and education

Born in Arcadia, Florida, Garner served an enlistment in the United States Marine Corps before attending the Florida State University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1962. He also holds a master's in public administration from Shippensburg State University.

Military career

LTG Jay Garner

Commissioned as an army second lieutenant in 1962, Garner served two tours in Vietnam, and later led two air defense units in Germany. He also served as deputy commanding general at Fort Bliss, Texas. Garner helped to develop the Patriot missile system and commanded missile batteries during the Gulf War. After the war he was put in charge of securing Kurdish areas in Iraq. He was later named commander of the United States Army Space and Strategic Defense Command (working primarily on President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative missile shield program), and concluded his army career as Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, retiring in 1997 at the rank of lieutenant general.

After leaving the army, Garner became president of SYColeman, a defense contractor which designs missile communications and targeting systems used in the Patriot and Arrow missile systems. (He has been on unpaid leave from the company since January 2003). Garner served on a presidential panel, chaired by Donald Rumsfeld, which specializes in space and missile threats. He has also worked closely with the Israel Defense Forces.[needs update]

Involvement in the Iraq War

In 2003 Garner was selected to lead the post-war reconstruction efforts in Iraq, along with three deputies, including British Major-General Tim Cross. Garner was regarded as a natural choice by the Bush administration given his earlier similar role in the north. General Garner was to develop and implement plans to assist the Iraqis in developing governance and reconstructing the country once Saddam Hussein was deposed.[3]

Following the defeat of the Saddam Hussein regime in Baghdad, there was widespread looting, rampaging, and general chaos throughout Iraq. Some of the most important monuments, such as the national museum, were under attack.[3] Furthermore, the infrastructure of the country was in ruins, ministries were broken into, and government records were destroyed. The situation in Iraq became chaotic and anarchic.[4] The only ministry which was protected by the occupying forces was the oil ministry. In addition, many exiled leaders from Iran and some from the West returned to Iraq.[5] The Bush administration selected Lieutenant General Jay Garner to lead the Coalition Provisional Authority (an intermediary government) in an attempt to rid Iraq of the chaos and anarchy that consumed the area. Garner's plan was to choose government officials from the former Iraqi regime to help lead the country.[6]

Garner began reconstruction efforts in March 2003 with plans aiming for Iraqis to hold elections within 90 days and for the U.S. to quickly pull troops out of the cities to a desert base. Jalal Talabani, a member of Jay Garner's staff in Kuwait before the war, was consulted on several occasions to help the U.S. select a liberal Iraqi government; this would be the first liberal government to exist in Iraq. In an interview with Time magazine, Garner stated that "as in any totalitarian regime, there were many people who needed to join the Baath Party in order to get ahead in their careers. We don't have a problem with most of them. But we do have a problem with those who were part of the thug mechanism under Saddam. Once the U.S. identifies those in the second group, we will get rid of them."[6] On April 15, 2003, General Garner called a conference in the city of Nasiriyah, where Garner, along with 100 Iraqis, discussed the future of Iraq. Garner called a follow-up meeting on April 28, 2003.[3] 250 Iraqis attended this meeting, and five of these Iraqis were selected by Garner's administration as the core leaders of the new Iraqi government: Masood Barzani was appointed as head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Talabani as head of the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Abdul Aziz Al Hakim was appointed as the leader of the Supreme Assembly for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Ahmad Chalabi was chosen to represent the Iraqi National Congress and Iyad Allawi was appointed as the leader of the Iraqi National Accord. Garner's selection caused quite a stir amongst many Iraqis. Although many Iraqis were open to the change that Garner and the U.S. were bringing to Iraq, others were resentful. Iraqis with a Shi'a background felt underrepresented in Garner's selection for government.[7] Three of the five officials appointed as key members in Iraq's new government were of Sunni background, one official was from a mixed Sunni–Shi'a background, and only one of the officials was of pure Shi'a background. The Shi'a felt left out and underrepresented, considering they comprise over 60% of the Iraqi population.[7] Furthermore, many Iraqis felt this new government was not selected in a democratic manner, as the U.S. had promised.

Once the leaders were selected, a plan to hold elections in Iraq, where members would be selected, began on May 6, 2003, and ended on November 14, 2003, when the plan was abandoned.[4] General Garner would be replaced by a new American Ambassador to Iraq, Paul Bremer, who took his role as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority. Following Garner's dismissal, it was planned that an Iraq government would take power in June 2004. Iyad Allawi was designated to lead the Iraqi interim authority. Allawi was a former Baathist of Shi'a origin. Allawi had many credentials, including previous work experience with the CIA.[3]

When Garner was replaced in his role by Paul Bremer on May 11, 2003, there was quite a bit of speculation as to why he was replaced so abruptly. It has been suggested that Garner was moved aside because he did not agree with the White House about who should decide how to reconstruct Iraq. He wanted early elections—90 days after the fall of Baghdad—and the new government to decide how to run the country and what to do with its assets. Garner said "I don't think [Iraqis] need to go by the U.S. plan, I think that what we need to do is set an Iraqi government that represents the freely elected will of the people. It's their country ... their oil."[8] Some experts faulted Garner for prioritizing elections over improving and privatizing the Iraqi economy.[9]

Garner was interviewed in No End in Sight, a 2007 documentary movie very critical of the handling of the Iraq occupation.

References

  1. ^ "Jay Garner: The US general waiting to replace Saddam". The Independent. 2003-04-04. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  2. ^ US arms trader to run Iraq Archived 2003-06-01 at the Wayback Machine The Observer, March 30, 2003.
  3. ^ a b c d Arthur Goldschmidt Jr. and Lawrence Davidson, A Concise History of the Middle East (Westview Press, 2006), 432–438
  4. ^ a b Jillian Schwedler and Deborah Gerner, eds., Understanding the Contemporary: Middle East (Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2008), 248–251
  5. ^ Jack Covarrubias and Tom Lansford, eds., Strategic Interests in the Middle East: Opposition or Support for US Foreign Policy (Ashgate Publishing Company, 2007), 74–76
  6. ^ a b Brian Bennett, Joshua Kucera, Terry Mccarthy, Michael Weisskopf and Mark Thompson, "Sorting The Bad From The Not So Bad," Time, May 19, 2003.
  7. ^ a b "Iraq: Entering a new epoch," Middle East, June 2003.
  8. ^ Greg Palast, "Unreported: The Zarqawi Invitation Archived 2006-06-18 at the Wayback Machine", ZNet, June 10, 2006
  9. ^ Dilip Hiro, The Nation, September 28, 2007, "How Bush's Iraqi Oil Grab Went Awry" https://www.thenation.com/article/how-bushs-iraqi-oil-grab-went-awry/ Archived 2019-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jay Garner.
Political offices
Preceded byas President of Iraq Director of the Office for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance of Iraq
2003 		Succeeded byas Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority of Iraq
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