Committee for the Liberation of Iraq

The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq (CLI) was a non-governmental organization which described itself as a "distinguished group of Americans" who wanted to "free Iraq from Saddam Hussein".

Committee for the Liberation of Iraq (CLI)
FormationNovember 2002
Dissolved2003[1]
TypeLobby
PurposePromote the replacing of Saddam Hussein's regime with a democratic government[1]
Chairman of the Board
Bruce P. Jackson
Executive Director
Randy Scheunemann
Treasurer
Julie Finley
Secretary
Gary Schmitt
Key people
George Shultz (Chairman Advisory Board)
John McCain (Honorary Co-Chairmen Advisory Board)
Joseph Lieberman (Honorary Co-Chairmen Advisory Board)
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/20030803155500/http://www.liberationiraq.org/ (archived 2003)

History

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The organization was founded in 2002. In a news release announcing its formation, the group said its goal was to "promote regional peace, political freedom and international security through replacement of the Saddam Hussein regime with a democratic government that respects the rights of the Iraqi people and ceases to threaten the community of nations."[1] It had close links to the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), important shapers of the Bush administration's foreign policy.[citation needed]

The Washington Post reported in November 2002 that "the organization is modeled on a successful lobbying campaign to expand the NATO alliance. Members include former secretary of state George P. Shultz, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and former senator Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.). ... While the Iraq committee is an independent entity, committee officers said they expect to work closely with the administration. They already have met with Hadley and Bush political adviser Karl Rove. Committee officers and a White House spokesman said Rice, Hadley and Cheney will soon meet with the group."[2]

With the successful removal of Saddam Hussein, the committee appears to have disbanded, and its once-prominent website no longer exists.[1] However, its offices still remain on Pennsylvania Avenue and 10th Street.

Personnel

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  • Randy Scheunemann, CLI's executive director, former chief national-security adviser to U.S. Senator Trent Lott, has also worked for Donald Rumsfeld as a consultant on Iraq policy. While working for Lott in 1998, Scheunemann drafted the "Iraq Liberation Act" that authorized $98 million for the Iraqi National Congress.
  • Evan Bayh, U.S. Senator (honorary co-chair) [1]
  • Bruce P. Jackson, chairman, is the former vice president of weapons contractor Lockheed Martin. He also chaired the Republican Party Platform's subcommittee for National Security and Foreign Policy when George W. Bush ran for president in 2000.
  • Jonathan Pallant, Exeter University

Advisory board

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International advisory board

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Advisory Board - The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq". The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq. 2003. Archived from the original on 2003-08-03. Retrieved Aug 11, 2014.
  2. ^ Slevin, Peter (November 4, 2002). "New Group Aims to Drum Up Backing for Ousting Hussein". Archived from the original on 2002-11-05.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Advisory Board - The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq". The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq. 2003. Archived from the original on 2003-02-13. Retrieved Aug 11, 2014.
  4. ^ "Chefen: Därför värvade vi Bildt (article only available in Swedish)". Archived from the original on 2007-02-27. Retrieved 2007-02-24.
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