Iraq constitution faces new delay

[ECH1969]

BAGHDAD — Iraqi politicians have failed to conclude negotiations on a draft constitution, and it remained unclear when a final text might be printed, less than five weeks before a referendum, Iraqi and United Nations (UN) officials have said.

An amendment to satisfy Sunni demands about the wording of a passage on the Arab identity of Iraq, apparently accepted by non-Arab Kurds last week, was still under discussion, he said.

Kurds were pressing a claim to be guaranteed both deputy prime minister posts and Shiites wanted water resources to be placed under central government authority.

Most Shiites live in the south, downstream of Kurds and Sunnis, along Iraq’s two great rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates. “Water is more important to us than oil,” Qandeel said, recalling the suffering of southern Shiites under deposed leader Saddam Hussein, who diverted rivers to the Sunni areas.

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/world.aspx?ID=BD4A90874

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. Meanwhile.......Back In The Disaster That Is Iraq..... n/t

[Erika]

2. But I read 50,000 Americans will be home soon

sure...

[ladylibertee]

4. NOPE...That's why New iraq is stalling....

they want to continue freeloading our government.

[annabanana]

6. uh... they don't HAVE a government ladyl.

they have US appointed flacks..

[Theduckno2]

3. Yep, the constitutional referendum looks to be the "turning point".

The "turning point" towards stability in Iraq just like the capture of Saddam, the turnover of sovereignty and the parlimentary elections. Bitter sarcasm.

I just want the troops to start coming home because I think their presence causes a great deal of the instability. It gets even harder to read Riverbend knowing that we are the problem not the solution.

Just a suggestion, start bringing out the "heavy" tanks and artillery out first. I would think that those weapons are particularly unnerving to the people of an occupied country and our air support should be able to make up the difference.

[necso]

5. This particular farce is

becoming openly and transparently ridiculous.

Now let me see if I can get this straight. The southern Shia, who do not want an even (country-wide) distribution of oil revenues, and who desire considerable independence, want the water under centralized control (which will, in practice, most likely mean Shia control), because they could be shorted on this particular commodity. And the (non-Kurdish) Sunnis, having apparently lost out as regards federalism, are worried about some wording to convey the notion of a single (Arab) state -- in the face of a reality that promises something else entirely. And the Kurds (who want eventual independence) are demanding both deputy prime minister positions, so that they can have disproportionate power in the central government -- in addition to federalism.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we are pounding the Turkomen, helping create abysmal conditions for them to vote. Combine this with the violence, civil disorder, etc, in the (non-Kurdish) Sunni areas generally, and their chances of voting down the constitution, regardless of what is in it, appear minimal. Plus, as it is reported, PKK types are again "conducting operations" in Turkey (and ?). (Turkey being one of those states whose "interference" in Iraq our troops are staying there to prevent -- on behalf of an Islamic, federalist, anti-western (they are, in practice, killing and maiming us) state.)

And it doesn't appear that we even have an ambassador to Turkey at this time of Turkish unhappiness with Iraqi Kurds (not that he would be able to say anything without Hughes' approval).

And what exactly is the composition of those Iraqi forces in Tal Afar? "Former" peshmerga, perchance?