Fw: Wash. Post: "Draft Constitution Would Fundamentally Change Iraq"

[Bob Sheridan]

Why should we expect Iraqis to give up their core beliefs (sometimes 
called "folkways") such as the role of religion and women in society, 
when we wouldn't do so ourselves, democracy or less-than perfect 
democracy here?  I call them "constitutional attitudes" meaning the hard 
core ones that give rise to constitutional law.

We didn't really think we were going to change those, did we?  Is that 
why we invaded Iraq? Perhaps democracy was the fig-leaf behind which 
were more important geo-strategic considerations.  I certainly hope so.

rs



Lynne Henderson wrote:

>This was in today's Washington Post.  I have edited it, wiht deference to copyright, but  the url is at the end. It calls for a "loose federation", with Islamic "principles", and Islamic clerics on the constitutional court. Women obvously lose out, as does any notion of separation of religon from secular affairs.  A weak central government is an invitation to the Kurds and maybe the Shi'ias to secede.  Reports keep emphasizing that the Sunnis have bee nleft out of most discussions.
>The article also indicates that the US ambassador has played a large role in pressuring the parties to come to an argreement.
>I'm sorry, but if this is the model for "freedom and democracy" for which we are fighting, and this is an accurate representation of the current draft, it is quite reactionary and dangerous.  To quote Larry Diamond yesterday, "a bad constitution is worse than no constitution" . . at this time.
>Perhaps there will be later developments/improvements.
>Lynne Henderson
> 
>Draft Constitution Would Fundamentally Change Iraq
> 
> By Ellen Knickmeyer and Jonathan Finer
> 
>  BAGHDAD, Aug. 22 -- Shiites and Kurds were sending a draft constitution to parliament on Monday that would fundamentally change Iraq, transforming the country into a loose federation, with a weak central administration governed by Islamic law, negotiators said.
> 
> The draft, slated for action by a Monday deadline, would be a sweeping rejection of the demands of Iraq's disaffected Sunni minority, which has called the proposed federal system the start of the breakup of Iraq. Shiites and Kurds indicated they were in no mood to compromise.
>* * * *
> 
> "  U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad kept up days of pressure on negotiators to complete the constitution, giving his sanction to the provisions on Islamic law, negotiators said.
> 
> * * * *
>
> The draft also stipulates that Iraq is an Islamic state and that no law can contradict the principles of Islam, Shiite and Kurdish negotiators said. Opponents have charged that last provision would subject Iraqis to religious edicts by individual clerics.
> 
> The Shiite and Kurdish negotiators also said draft calls for the presence of Islamic clerics on the court that would interpret the constitution. Family matters such as divorce, marriage or inheritance would be decided either by religious law or civil law as an individual chooses -- a condition that opponents say would likely lead to women being forced into unfavorable rulings for them by opponents demanding judgments under Islamic law.
> 
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