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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Kurdish Support for the New Consitution is Conditional |
| 2005-08-13 |
| From Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty [Kurdistan's] Salah Al-Din University carried out a poll in the Irbil, Dahuk, Al-Sulaymaniyah, and Kirkuk governorates asking 1,744 citizens how they will vote should the constitution include certain provisions, Khabat reported on 11 August. * A vast majority of 92.6 percent of respondents said they will not ratify the constitution if it guarantees federalism but does not return Kirkuk and "Arabized" regions to the Kurds; 4.4 percent said they will approve it anyway; and 2.92 percent said they are undecided. * Should the constitution not call for a separation between religion and politics, 54.6 percent said they will reject it, while 28.05 percent said they will approve it; 7.33 percent said they are undecided. * Asked how they will vote if the constitution fails to recognize self-determination for the Kurds, 88.25 percent said they will reject it; 7.29 percent said they will approve it anyway; and 4.3 percent said they are undecided. * If the constitution calls for a dissolution of the Kurdish peshmerga forces, 81 percent said they will reject it; 13.31 percent said they will approve it anyway; and 5.68 percent are undecided. |
| Posted by:Mike Sylwester |
| #2 I would suggest that the Kurdish constitutional delegates have been very seriously horse trading with the Shia, both sides having primary objectives that are not negotiable, but fortunately are not in conflict, and secondary objectives that can be ironed out. The Sunnis are way behind the power curve on this one, so are being treated accordingly. If their non-negotiable demands are at the expense of the Kurds and Shia, the Sunnis can go get knotted, and the constitution will be approved without them. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-08-13 19:38 |
| #1 As much as I'd like to see all of Iraq adopt a new constitution, the Kurds deserve our support in winning back the "Arabized Regions". They've suffered death and destruction from the likes of Iran, Saddam, Turkey and Syria. As well as past abandonment by the U.S. and other entities. [thank God we finally woke up after the Gulf war] Plus they an fight like hell. A good ally. |
| Posted by: Red Dog 2005-08-13 15:47 |