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Iraq Leaders Delay Constitution

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Mon Aug 22, 2005 at 11:18:31 AM EST
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Update: Constitution delayed.

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Original Post:

ABC News in Australia is reporting the Kurds and Shiites have agreed on a draft of a Constitution and will present it regardless of whether the Sunnis agree.

"An agreement between the Shiites and the Kurds (the two main parliamentary blocs) have been reached... God willing, the draft will be presented in the Parliament today," Shiite negotiator Jawad al-Maliki said.

Although the agreement appears to have been thrashed out over the heads of the Sunnis, the Kurds and Shiites have enough seats in Parliament - 215 out of 275 - between them to have the constitution approved with a majority.

More from the Guardian here. Garance at Tapped writes:

this defective new constitution cannot be seen as something that is in America's long-term security interests. It is entirely too illiberal and divisive for that. And, as Matt himself noted this morning, foreign policy has to be treated substantively and not just as a matter of domestic political positioning.

The problem right now is that the present constitution seems like a recipe for civil war between Islamic theocrats representing the Shia majority and more secular Sunni previously loyal to Saddam Hussein. Rather than quelling the Sunni insurgency through the political process, it seems to be exacerbating Sunni grievances and complaints of disenfranchisement. How can that outcome possibly be in America's near or long-term security interests given the influx of foreign terrorists into Iraq and what power -- and weapons -- they might gain there should there be a civil war?

Armando at Daily Kos weighs in here. Billmon too.

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    Iraq Leaders Delay Constitution | 5 comments (5 topical)
    Re: Iraq Leaders Delay Constitution (none / 0) (#1)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:36 PM EST
    form over substance yet again. It benefits the US only if we are going to declare victory and come home. "Yep they have their elections and their constitution now they'll have to go through their growing pains." What a diaster!

    Re: Iraq Leaders Delay Constitution (none / 0) (#2)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:36 PM EST
    Sounds like Lebanon, only bigger, and worse.

    Re: Iraq Leaders Delay Constitution (none / 0) (#3)
    by The Heretik on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:37 PM EST
    In his own inimitable way, Bush has brought about Middle East unity. We have the civil war of Lebanon on a far more grand scale along with the militias and warlords of Aghanistan tossed in. We have terrorists streaming in from Syria, Jordan, and Saudi. Toss in the Shia influence from Iran plus whatever Wahabi influences Pakistan can offer the Sunnis against the Shia and we have a country ready to further explode. Civil war and a failed state are already realities. How much of a rogue Iraq becomes we have yet to see.

    Re: Iraq Leaders Delay Constitution (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:37 PM EST
    Iraq Leaders Delay Constitution Update: Constitution delayed.
    Tom? Tom? Is that you, Tom?

    Re: Iraq Leaders Delay Constitution (none / 0) (#5)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:40 PM EST
    To, the hertik, Osama bin laden is so happy with bush and business, because bush just made him a new kind of Islamic state, and old Osama can now have a really nice place to live out his years in total peace, so how much more can you do for a family friend? Bush and Osama will run in 2008. scream and scream some-more, Iraq the place to be for fun and games in the new one world.

    Iraq Leaders Delay Constitution | 5 comments (5 topical)