Iraqi Charter Problems Due To Miscalculations, Overblown Optimism

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBG8W97WCE.html

Road to Iraqi Charter Far Rockier Than Expected Due Miscalculations, Overblown Optimism An AP News Analysis

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Since the early days of the occupation, the United States has aimed for a democratic constitution to serve the interests of all Iraq's ethnic and religious groups. Getting one has proven tough.

The tortured process, now approaching a climactic stage, has been marked by false starts, overblown optimism and miscalculations over the depth of suspicion and hatred in a religiously, ethnically and culturally mixed society deeply wounded by Saddam Hussein's rule.

Time and time again, as the Americans tried to accommodate one Iraqi group, they ended up offending another.

Often, plans crafted by the White House and promoted by well-tailored emissaries in Baghdad's hermetic Green Zone have collapsed after a few utterances by turbaned, reclusive Shiite Muslim clerics in dusty Najaf.

[IndianaGreen]

1. A brief synopsis of the rocky road to an Iraqi constitution

The drafters of the constitution work behind the heavily fortified Green Zone. While they divide the country along sectarian lines, and take away womens' rights, the real people of Iraq suffer through unemployment, lawlessness, lack of electricity and other necessities, etc., and find themselves on the verge of civil war.

Wouldn't the Iraqis stand a better chance of resolving their problems it there weren't US troops over there forcing them to do so, while killing their citizens and laying waste to the country?

[geckosfeet]

2. Guess the US did not study the history and culture of Iraq

before invading. Who would have thought that some preparation might have been a useful tool before spending billions upon billions of US dollars and ruining thousands of lives.

So,,, splitting the country up; the so called federalism proposal, will weaken Iraqi unity. The country will be ripe for US control for a time. Then a take over by another ME country TBD (Saudi Arabia) in the future when things get too hot for the repukes here.

The eventual consensus will be, that these people are incapable of ruling themselves, so we will have to rule them. Then the Saudis will rule them as our proxies.

There will be no governing. Just a martial law state that continues to sap our resources and divide our country while enriching the oil companies.

[Eloriel]

3. Oh, hell no. That would have made too much sense, been

less arrogant.

I was thinking to myself that this war was SO totally unnecessary, not JUST going in, but look at the result: Total chaos. Saddam had offered to step down. If we'd just let him, we could've been at precisely this point years ago, without the all the previous bloodshed, pain, death and destruction. Ahh, but we would have missed the corruption.

[HuffleClaw]

4. so... in a nutshell...

its SADDAMS fault! thanks to American, erm, Associated Press for clearing that up.

[GoBlue]

5. How is this LBN?

:shrug:

[anotherdrew]

6. "Overblown Optimism" - war supporters hurt troops by being unrealistic

yep.

[NYC]

7. Plans crafted by the White House.

...Often, plans crafted by the White House and promoted by well-tailored emissaries in Baghdad's hermetic Green Zone have collapsed after a few utterances by turbaned, reclusive Shiite Muslim clerics in dusty Najaf...

Doesn't that sentence seem to sum it up? Iraqi constitution "crafted by the White House" in the Green Zone, no less.

Overblown optimism? Like the flowers, and "weeks, not months" as I heard Cheney say one Sunday morning on television. Imagine! That was simply optimism, not reality. Who knew?