Al-Sadr 'rejects' Iraqi constitution

[bemildred]

Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has said he rejects the Iraqi constitution backed by his partners in the biggest parliament bloc.

"I reject this constitution which calls for sectarianism and there is nothing good in this constitution at all," he told Aljazeera late on Saturday.

He criticised federalism in the constitution, which is rejected by Iraq's Sunni Arabs, who fear it will give Kurds and Shias too much power and control over Iraq's oil resources.

"If there is a democratic government in Iraq, nobody has the right to call for the establishment of federalism anywhere in Iraq whether it is the south, north, middle or any other part of Iraq," he said.

al Jazeera

[ixion]

1. this is a centuries old feud

I really don't see how they'll ever come to some compromise. :shrug:

[OutNow]

2. Centuries Old Feud - Get Our Troops Out Now

Yes, the tension between the two sides of Islam is centuries old and is escalating into a civil war in Iraq that already has Iran involved and may drag other Muslim countries into it.

Mission Accomplished???????

I don't have a clue on how to fix this problem but do know one thing - our troops are sitting ducks and should get the hell out of there now.

Brings the Troops Home Now

[ixion]

3. yep, agreed.

and Welcome to DU! :toast:

[ECH1969]

4. Interesting

Sadr is on the side of the Sunnis in demanding that federalism be stopped.

[Buck Rabbit]

5. Sadr is fascinating. He is the best and worse of hopes for Iraq

Wants an Islamic state, Islam is perfect and complete therefore must include government. (paraphrasing him)

The Islamic state he wants be a fairly conservative Shiite one. Strap those burkas on tight.

Now the good for US and Iraq:

-He demands a quick and complete US withdrawal.
-He wants no outsiders in Iraq, not US not Arabs, not Iranians, not Al Que-ada.
-When the US leaves he will turn his sights on foreign fighters.
-He will not try to ethnically cleanse the Sunnis. Many Sunnis call him the good Shiite.
-His top priority is to provide services to the Iraqi people. His bloc is trying for positions in the new government where they most directly work on social services. Not control the military or pilfer oil money.

He is perhaps the best hope for preventing an Iraqi civil war of Rwanda-ish consequences. That said he'll undoubtedly be assassinated within a year.