Weekly Report - 22 July 2003

Conspiring against Mejí­a's popularity are not only the domestic policy consequences of the impending deal with the IMF (WR-03-27), but also the President's high-handed dismissal of criticism about his decision to send Dominican troops to Iraq. 

He has been reminded by the lower chamber's armed forces committee that he needs congressional approval for this. His response was that this was a decision 'taken long ago' (by him), and that in any case the vote in congress would endorse it. 

Misgivings have peaked after news last week of the second Dominican fatality in Iraq: a medic serving in the US military killed in a clash with the Iraqi resistance (the first was a US Marine killed in action in April). 

Scheduled to depart is the 'Quisqueya' task force, composed of 165 army troops, 39 from the navy, 44 from the air force and two policemen.