Iraq election (two days to go)

[Scarberry, Mark]

The Sunnis historically have ruled Iraq, even though they make up perhaps
only 20% of the population. They also insist that Iraq remain unified. (Thus
one of their main complaints is that the draft constitution may make it too
easy for Kurdish or Shia majority areas to secede or to set up additional
autonomous regions.) But many of the Sunnis are unwilling to live under a
constitution that is approved by an overall majority in a nationwide vote.
The Shias and the Kurds will not agree to return to minority Sunni rule. If
the Sunnis insist on remaining part of a country of which they are a
minority, but want to control the government, what can we say? 

Sandy complains, it seems, that 60% negative votes in a few of the Sunni
majority provinces will not block adoption of the constitution. Of course it
would be better if majorities of all the groups in Iraq supported the
constitution. But I'm not surprised that previously oppressed groups are
unwilling to cede control of their future to the Sunnis. Does Sandy think
they should? 

Thankfully, it seems that the last minute revisions of the draft
constitution may make it acceptable to enough Sunnis to make a stable nation
a real possibility. 

Mark Scarberry
Pepperdine