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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraq Interim Constitution Signing Delayed |
| 2004-03-05 |
| EFL, hat tip to Drudge Report Also, did I beat the Army of Steves in posting this? BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Shiite members of Iraq’s Governing Council refused to sign the interim constitution at the last minute Friday, delaying a signing ceremony after the country’s top Shiite cleric rejected parts of the document, Iraqi officials said. The council agreed to the accord unanimously Monday, but Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani rejected provisions put into the text at the request of the Kurds to protect their self-rule area in the north, said a source in the council, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The marja’iya (al-Sistani’s office) will not accept it," the source said. Also in dispute was a clause outlining the shape of the presidency in the future government, a Shiite official said. The Shiites were reviving a demand that would let them dominate the presidency, he said. * * * One of the clauses was sought by the Kurds to ensure that the eventual permanent constitution, to be put to a national referendum, does not encroach on their self-rule zone in the north. The clause says that if two-thirds of the voters in any three provinces reject the permanent charter, it will not go into effect. The Kurd self-rule region includes three provinces in the north. * * * The council members that refused to sign were Ahmad Chalabi of the Iraqi National Congress, Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim of the Supreme Council, Ibrahim al-Jaafari of the Dawa party, independent Shiite Mouwafak al-Rubaie and the current council president, Shiite cleric Muhammad Bahr al-Ulloom, al-Bayati said. * * * So why do I feel like the US has been played by Chalabi? I just hope that, while he thinks he’s using us, we’re actually out playing him . . . |
| Posted by:cingold |
| #4 Heh...somehow I knew this was going to happen in some form or another. I wouldnt be surprised if Bremer says "Fine don't vote on it, we'll implement something that WE want instead". The GC has been told from the beginning that this is not going to be turned into an islamic state nor are we going to let the Kurds be subservient or massacred or given no ability to have some control over their own lives. Best case sees Sistani acting as the good cop here and saying to back the constitution, worst case we cram our own version in. |
| Posted by: Valentine 2004-3-5 11:10:40 PM |
| #3 I think that Iraq, from the Sunni Triangle south is "doomed" to something, just not sure exactly what... civil war, years of jihadi strife, sectarian murder, lies, deceit, mob rule, insanity, Islam... I don't have all of the shackles that bind Bremer and the Bush Admin. I am with both of you on your main points, regards the Arabs, they need a massive slap-down then reboot the southern half. The Kurds should not be held back. My armchair solution: Partition Irak into North and South. Write their initial constitution for them and IMPOSE it for 20 years - one generation. Turn the North loose now. Turn the South into a US-admin protectorate until they 'get it'. Stomp the shit out of violators with extreme prejudice. Only total ruthlessness will be respected. Sad. True. BTW, who really needs UN recognition? Where will it bring anything of substance except some paltry donation pledges from countries with more economic gloom on their horizon than Irak? I'd find a discussion about the pros and cons of just continuing to go it alone interesting. We'll replace Venezuelan oil with Iraki imports... etc. Fuck the Arabs. Go Kurds. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-3-5 11:05:00 PM |
| #2 Bremer is walking a very tough, tight line. He wants the interim constitution to be of, for and by the Iraqi people. Sistani controls (influences) 30K Shi'ites who will take to the streets at the drop of a fatwa. If Sistani says "illegitimate", it is. The Kurds have a right to be worried, but Sistani also has a point, sort of. I personally think it's already doomed. As soon as you let a statement that "no law can be passed that is contrary to Islam", the game is over. An unelected judicial body can decide constitutionality by their interpretation of Islam. And I fear for the women of Iraq. |
| Posted by: Loren 2004-3-5 10:30:25 PM |
| #1 Question for Rantburgers- is it Paul Bremers place to stand up to Sistani? Seems to be a big mistake not pimp slapping Sistani earlier. This guys agenda is clearly at odds with ours. What can be done? Let him be boomed? |
| Posted by: ne1469 2004-3-5 7:48:49 PM |