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| Iraq |
| Deal reached on Iraqi Constitution |
| 2005-10-11 |
| BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi negotiators Under the deal, the two sides agreed that The agreement would allow the Sunnis to try to amend the constitution to reduce the autonomous powers that Shiites and Kurds would have under the federal system created by the charter, negotiators said. Theyre counting both on more Sunni reps - they wont boycott in December, and the rules are more favorable, and also that the Shiite block wont stay united - Dawa and SCIRI seem to moving apart, and Sistani wont hold them together. It boosts the chances for a constitution that Shiite and Kurdish leaders support and the United States has been eager to see approved in Saturday's vote to avert months more of political turmoil, delaying plans to start a withdrawal of U.S. forces. Looks like a big win for Khalilzad, the Admin, and the US. U.S. officials have pushed the three days of negotiations between Shiite and Kurdish leaders in the government and Sunni Arab officials, that concluded with marathon talks at the house of President Jalal Talabani late Tuesday. A top Sunni negotiator, Ayad al-Samarraie of the Iraqi Islamic Party, said the measure would allow it to "stop the campaign rejecting the constitution and we will call on Sunni Arabs to vote yes." It was unclear if parliament would take a formal vote on the new deal with some lawmakers saying that measure may be read to the National Assembly on Wednesday. Look for some IIP people to blown up in the next few days Some other major Sunni parties were not present at the negotiations and it was not clear if they too would be willing to reverse their "no" campaigns. "er, em, let me check my life insurance policy" The Sunni-led insurgents have demanded a boycott of the election and threatened those who would vote. "Damned traitors!!" The announcement was the first break in the ranks of Sunni Arab leaders, who have been campaigning hard to defeat the constitution at the polls. Ali al-Dabagh, a Shiite negotiator, said the sides agreed on four additions to the constitution that will be voted on Saturday that will allow for future amendments. The central addition allows the next parliament, which will be formed in Dec. 15 elections, to form the commission that will have four months to consider changes to the constitution. The changes would be approved by the entire parliament, then a referendum would be held two months later. Sunni Arabs are hoping to have a stronger representation in the next parliament and want to make major amendments to the constitution, particularly to water down the provisions for federalism, which Shiites and Kurds strongly support. The other additions include a statement stressing Iraqi unity and another states that the Arabic language should be used in the Kurdistan region, along with Kurdish — issues important to the Sunni Arabs. The fourth underlines that former members of Saddam Hussein's ousted, Sunni-led Baath Party will only be prosecuted if they committed crimes. Some moderate Sunni leaders once had positions in the Baath Party and fear being barred from politics by the De-Baathification process outlined in the constitution. "The leaders of the political blocs have approved these additions and amendments and tomorrow they will be announced (read) to the national assembly," al-Dabagh said |
| Posted by:liberalhawk |
| #6 There are so many plusses and minuses to every outcome, that you reach the conclusion that in a democracy, more haggling is better. For example, while the Sunnis are obviously troublesome, they will *also* push the Shiites towards greater secularism and the rights of women, etc. They have a vested interest in civil rights for the minorities, i.e. them; but this overflows to all the other minorities as well. Remember US history, and the federalist vs. the anti-federalist arguments? Many of the same rules apply, of course in much distorted form. The Sunnis will push for a strong central government, the homogenation of society, and a lack of preferences for groups. The Kurds will do the opposite, and the Shiites will be somewhere in between. And a better result will come from haggling, with everybody getting something and nobody getting everything they want. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-10-11 20:09 |
| #5 Okay. It's fixed. |
| Posted by: Fred 2005-10-11 19:53 |
| #4 Lol, Raj. I couldn't pass up teasing lh, though. :) |
| Posted by: .com 2005-10-11 18:55 |
| #3 It's actually a more interesting article if you don't use the horizontal scrollbar, .com... |
| Posted by: Raj 2005-10-11 18:53 |
| #2 We need a No posters left behind program for libruls. |
| Posted by: Thrineth Floter4574 2005-10-11 18:38 |
| #1 Grrrrrrrr.... |
| Posted by: .com 2005-10-11 18:26 |