Maine Iraqis, officials hail shift

Maine’s representatives in Washington pledged support for Iraq’s interim government, while Iraqis in Maine celebrated the unexpectedly early transfer of power, which they and government officials called an important milestone.

“The United States will continue to play a crucial role in helping the new Iraqi government achieve a secure and stable country,” said Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who also commended NATO countries that have pledged to train security forces of the new regime.

GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe said that with the transfer, the process of Iraqi self-rule enters “a critical but also hopeful new chapter.”

Snowe said the transition will be aided when other countries in the Middle East and beyond help to create a stable and democratic Iraq.

“Over the coming months, there must be greater participation by our allies to secure Iraq during this key time, and that includes committing their own troops to that cause,” Snowe said.

Brothers Khaery and Abbas Alhamdany, who run the Friendly Discount Store in Westbrook, celebrated the transfer of power.

“It’s a great thing,” said Khaery Alhamdany, who left Iraq 14 years ago after joining an uprising against Saddam Hussein. “A million people are happy, not just me.”

Abbas Alhamdany said he was glad the handover came earlier than expected.

“When you’re on a boat or a ship, you have to have a captain to control it,” he said. “Now the country’s got somebody to lead it.”

U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, a Democrat who represents Maine’s 1st District, called Monday’s transfer “a welcome and hopeful step.”

“However, we cannot claim that Iraqis have full sovereignty, as long as an occupying force of 150,000, mostly American, troops provides their security,” Allen said.

He said little progress toward rebuilding Iraq and conducting fair elections can be made until security is restored.

Democratic Rep. Michael Michaud called the transition “a positive development and a major step in solidifying democracy for the Iraqi people and moving toward the day when U.S. forces are no longer needed to maintain order within Iraq.”

Michaud, of Maine’s 2nd District, said he hopes the change will bring about a more international peacekeeping force in Iraq that includes NATO, the United Nations and other countries.