Kurd: Islam May Get Bigger Role in Iraq

[Eugene]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5221482,00.html

Kurd: Islam May Get Bigger Role in Iraq


Friday August 19, 2005 11:46 PM

AP Photo BAG112

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The United States is pressuring Kurds to accept
demands of majority Shiites and Sunnis on the role of Islam in
government in order to reach agreement on a draft constitution, a
Kurdish official taking part in the negotiations said early Saturday.

Those demands would give the Muslim religion a bigger role in Iraqi
society at the expense of women's rights and civil liberties, said
the official, who refused to allow his name to be used because of
the sensitivity of the issue.

He told The Associated Press that Kurdish leaders who support more
secular policies are bowing to American pressure - dropping among
other things their demand for self-determination, or the right to
secede.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman said he was not aware of results of the
latest round of talks, which started Friday and were continuing into
Saturday morning. If the Kurdish claims are true, it would appear the
United States wants to please the Shiite majority in order to get a
draft charter finished by the Monday night deadline.

more...

This democratic process looks like a shotgun wedding to me.

[Cocoa]

1. U.S. lobbying for Islamic rule in Iraq

maybe that's the "noble cause" that Casey Sheehan died for, no wonder Bush didn't want to tell his mom.

[bribri16]

2. Bush would sell his mom to get this constitution by Monday BUT

it won't make any difference either in Iraq or here in the US. It's his pipe dream but he knows he has the MSM who will tout any draft consitituion by Monday deadline as a "victory" for Bush.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Do you think we can have some more waggy blue fingers?

I really liked that.

[VegasWolf]

3. Bush admin advocates few rights for women under Islam law. Beat them

if you want, Bush says, just give me my oil and get that document
signed so I can flee the fuck out of there.

[Igel]

5. Or, this could be a clever ruse.

A single anonymous figure makes claim, knowing said claim will embarrass the US, *and* the Shi'a and Sunnis. Claim need not be true. Although infallibility and moral rectitude will certainly be imputed to the anonymous figure and reporter.

But it might change the layout of gamepieces on the board.

[damntexdem]

6. Oh, yeah, the U.S. is there to promote democracy and rights.

The Kurds have been betrayed by the U.S. before. I hope they take that to heart and tell the U.S. to stuff it now.