Shiites Await Answer to Compromise Offer (Sunni reponse "Maybe tomorrow")

[sabra]

http://www.poteaudailynews.com/articles/2005/08/26/ap/headlines/d8c7m7lo0.txt

Shiites Await Answer to Compromise Offer

The Shiites submitted the offer after the personal intervention of President Bush, who faces rising criticism from the U.S. public and his own party about the conduct of the Iraq war.

Shiite negotiator Jawad al-Maliki reported progress in talks Friday with the Sunni Arabs and Kurds on federalism but problems on a Shiite proposal to ban members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party from public life.

"We will not be easy with this point at all," al-Maliki said. He said the Sunnis were being tough in defending the rights of former Baath party members and "it is regrettable to us that the Sunnis and the Baath are in the same pot."

Sunni negotiator Kamal Hamdoun said only that he and his Sunni colleagues were "studying the suggestions that we received."
Asked when they would respond, he said: "Maybe tomorrow" and refused to say more.

[HuffleClaw]

1. baath party eh?

hmmmm. took bush about five minutes to jump up and say the sunnis 'HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE' and NOW this ? give 'em another day, they'll have 'em allied with al qaeda, and give 'em TWO days, they'll call 'em a bunch of commie, tree-hugging, bra-burning, gay teletubby-watching spongebobs.

[cureautismnow]

2. "Sure thing. The check's in the mail." n/t

:eyes:

[VegasWolf]

3. "Don't call us! We'll call you! Soooon!" nt

[daleo]

4. "Maybe Tomorrow" - The Littlest Hobo song.

MAYBE TOMORROW, I'LL WANT TO SETTLE DOWN,
UNTIL TOMORROW, I'LL JUST KEEP MOVING ON.

THERE'S A WORLD, THAT'S WAITING TO UNFOLD,
A BRAND NEW TALE, NO ONE HAS EVER TOLD...

On edit - Amusingly, the song was written by a fellow named Terry Bush.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Looks like a definite NO

Sunni Says No Deal Reached on Constitution

10 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A top Sunni Arab negotiator said Saturday that no agreement has been reached on the draft constitution and called on Iraqis to reject it in an Oct. 15 referendum. A government spokesman indicated talks were hopelessly deadlocked and said "this is the end of the road."

The Sunni negotiator, Saleh al-Mutlaq, made the statement on Al-Jazeera television after Sunnis studied compromise proposals offered by the Shiites on federalism and purges of former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party.

"The issue of division through federalism is on the table," al-Mutlaq said. "The Iraqi people have to give their word now and reject the constitution because this constitution is the beginning of the division of the country and the beginning of creating disturbance in the country."

Asked about Shiite offers, he replied: "We are still far from what we need and what the people need."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/iraq;_ylt=AvAk5NBbl2BAHOmgujpwoJKs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[sabra]

6. bam!

Just saw that too. hmm... not looking so good.

[philarq]

7. I still have yet to see

Why this Iraqi Constitution is any better than the ones of
1925
1929
1943
1958
1963 two
1964
1968
1970
1990
---I mean isn't there something to be said for a lasting constitution? Can't they just pull an old one out and agree on it?

[NYC]

8. Thanks for the list of constitutions in Iraq.

Welcome to DU. :hi: