That’s what this headline wants you to believe. You see, the United States has long wanted the Iraqi government partially to repeal their law which stated that no members of Saddam’s old Ba’ath Party can serve in governmental positions. The law, pushed by Jerry Bremer, displaced plenty of folks and created animosity and violence. It has been repealed, awaiting approval by the executive department, but the headline over this AP story reads: Iraqi Lawmakers Pass Pro-Baath Party Law. WRONG. The Ba’ath Party is still outlawed. The new law allows former members of that party to serve in government positions.

From another, better-headlined AP piece:

The draft law approved Saturday is not a blanket approval for all former Baathists to take government jobs.

The law will allow low-ranking Baathists not involved in past crimes against Iraqis to go back to their jobs. High-ranking Baathists will be sent to compulsory retirement and those involved in crimes will stand trial, though their families will still have the right to pension.

The Baathists who were members in Saddam’s security agencies must retire — except for members of Fidayeen Saddam, a feared militia formed by Saddam’s eldest son, Oday. They will be entitled to nothing.

The Ba’ath Party now exists only, arguably, as a wing of the United States’ Democratic Party.