WP: Key Shiite Backs Away From Charter Accord

[Pirate Smile]

Key Shiite Backs Away From Charter Accord
Sunnis Won Chance to Make Revisions

By Nelson Hernandez
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 12, 2006; Page A14

BAGHDAD, Jan. 11 -- Iraq's most influential Shiite politician said Wednesday that he would not allow a new government to "change the essence" of the country's constitution, despite a promise made to Sunni Arabs that it would be opened to major revision.

The promise of future changes to the constitution had been a key concession to encourage Sunni Arabs to join the political process in Iraq and stop violence. Last summer, Sunnis were ready to walk away from the negotiating table as the country's ruling Shiite and Kurdish coalition wrote a constitution that allowed the creation of strong regional provinces.

In a last-minute deal negotiated under heavy pressure from U.S. diplomats, the three groups agreed that the draft constitution would be put to a national referendum in October as planned but would be open to change for four months after a new government was formed early this year.

But Abdul Aziz Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the most powerful Shiite party in the ruling coalition, appeared to back away from the constitutional compromise Wednesday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/11/AR2006011101312.html

[wookie294]

1. In other words: Stand by for a wider civil war

Mission accomplished.

Iran says, "Thank you."

[Auntie Bush]

2. So when is all out civil war going to begin?

And by the way...who's side are we going to be on? Are we going to go after the Sunnis who don't want a secular state...or are we going to help the Shiite turn the country into another Iran? And if we attack Iran...how long will the Shiite be OUR "friends" and will we be fighting the very army we are spending billions to rebuild today? :shrug:

[Gloria]

3. Related article: Shi/ite Challenge to US Policy--Asia Times Online

Posted to the World Media Watch

1//Asia Times Online, Hong Kong Jan 11, 2006
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HA11Ak02.html

SHI’ITE CHALLENGE TO US POLICY
By Gareth Porter
(Gareth Porter is an historian and national-security policy analyst. His latest book, Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam, was published in June.)

WASHINGTON - In escalating their conflict with the United States over its efforts to weaken the Iraqi insurgency by co-opting Sunni political figures, Shi'ite party leaders may have delivered a fatal blow to the US strategy.

US Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad has been trying to convince the Sunni population that a share of political power will protect their interests. But the ruling Shi'ite party - supported by the anti-US cleric Muqtada al-Sadr - has now broken decisively with that strategy, castigating both Sunni political leaders and the US as being apologists for terrorists.

Responding to the January 5 suicide bombing in Karbala that killed 60 Shi'ites and wounded 120, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), which heads the ruling Shi'ite coalition, said, "We hold responsible coalition forces and political elements that have openly announced their support for terrorism, for the pure blood that has flowed."

Sunni political leaders have publicly denounced terrorist acts, including the Karbala bombing. Nevertheless, Hakim suggested that his party would now block the bid by Sunni parties that won seats in parliament last month to participate in government.

The Sunni parties' alleged support for terrorism "for the sake of immediate political interests" would "only increase our willingness to exclude" those "who promulgate and make excuses for terrorism", he said. The Karbala bombing and the SCIRI response came just as talks were set to begin among Shi'ites, Kurds and Sunnis on the formation of a new government.

Although he did not refer to the United States, Hakim was making an obvious jab at Washington for its efforts to promote a prominent Sunni role in the next government and to weaken Shi'ite control over paramilitary forces used to fight the insurgents.

MORE

[Hissyspit]

4. AP - Politician: Iraq Constitution Won't Change

More stabilization and cooperation from wonderful, scenic Iraq, three years on.

http://start.earthlink.net/article/int?guid=20060112/43c5e250_3ca6_15526200601121363828258

Politician: Iraq Constitution Won't Change
By PATRICK QUINN (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
January 12, 2006 3:41 AM EST

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A leading Shiite politician marked Islam's feast of sacrifice Wednesday by asking for God's help to smite the insurgency, and warned his governing religious bloc would not allow substantive changes to Iraq's new constitution - a key Sunni Arab demand.

U.S. Army soldiers killed six insurgents in a fire fight in Baghdad, including two wearing suicide belts. They arrested one man and confiscated a weapons cache that the Army said included 400 pounds of homemade explosives and components to make 15 pressure-activated bombs.

- snip -

"We ask God's blessing to send a strong stroke against the terrorists," he said, adding that combatting the insurgency would be the top priority of the new government formed after Dec. 15 elections. Sunni Arabs make up the core of the insurgency.

MORE

Associated Press reporters Bushra Juhi in Baghdad, Ryan Lenz in Tikrit, Yahya Barzanji in Kirkuk, and Sam Cage in Geneva contributed to this report.

[rodeodance]

5. BushCo was so eager to claim a victory--and they knew it was terrible

to go ahead. yet they did-all for political points.

[bklyncowgirl]

6. The Shiite has hit the fan. Heckuva job, George.

Did anyone, aside from the Neocons, really think that the Shiites were going to acually enter a power sharing arrangement with their traditional enemies?