Iraqi leader says U.S. Senate plan would be castastrophe

[struggle4progress]

Source: Associated Press

Iraq's prime minister opposes plan to divide country into semiautonomous regions.
By Qassim Abdul-Zahra
Saturday, September 29, 2007

... The nonbinding Senate resolution, passed on a bipartisan vote Wednesday, calls for Iraq to be split into federal regions under control of the three communities in a power-sharing agreement similar to the one that ended the 1990s civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"It is an Iraqi affair dealing with Iraqis," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said. "Iraqis are eager for Iraq's unity. ... Dividing Iraq is a problem, and a decision like that would be a catastrophe."

Iraq's constitution lays down a federal system, allowing Shiites in the south, Kurds in the north and Sunnis in the center and west of the country to set up regions with considerable autonomous powers ...

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/world/09/29/0929iraq.html

[Egnever]

1. well then you better get your shit together quick

Cause whats going on there right now is a catatrophe for the US, and a lot of us are getting damned tired of it.

[WCGreen]

2. 'Nuff Said!!!

[BootinUp]

3. "Iraqi's are eager for Iraq's unity"

Somehow I don't believe that. Anyway you are out of time to make it happen buddy.

[Jillian]

4. What is interesting about this is that while he said that - a top Sunni leader

proposed the same plan as Biden's in Iraq, and is getting support even from the Shi'ites.
It makes me wonder if Maliki said this because the Senate resolution was a smack down to bsh.
And he is bsh's boy.

I don't know what happens from here. I was telling one of the other Biden supporters that I wish I could just sit down with Biden and ask him a hundred questions about what happens next.

[krkaufman]

6. You're catching on... : ) n/t

[krkaufman]

5. Personally, we have no business deciding what happens to Iraq.

We need to admit our failure, beg the international community to bail us out, and then remove ourselves from the country entirely, so as to remove any taint from whatever government remains after we've left.

The people don't trust us, they don't trust their government, and anyone working for the government is marked for death, as the government is seen as a US puppet.

The country has NO chance for stability so long as we are still there. Everybody has to go, troops, mercenaries, diplomats; and the embassy should be turned-over to whatever organization stands-up to do stability and recovery right.

[rodeodance]

8. As I see it, The Resolution just allows for what their Constitution ALLREADY says-- Plus

what is occurring on the ground.

[Jillian]

11. But - as I posted above - a top Sunni Leader proposed the same plan as Biden's

and it is gaining support.

[Hulk]

7. What do we care what the Iraqi government chief thinks.....just because he's president....

...doesn't give him the authority to tell the chimp and co. what to do.

[IsItJustMe]

9. It's an inevitability in my opinion. The sooner it occurs, the better.

[pingzing58]

10. The U.S. is arming the Sunni's and giving them the Center and West thus putting them back in power.

Is the U.S. punishing the Shia because of Al Sadr and his Shia followers who are being armed by Iran and Syria? I can see why the Shia led government of Al Maliki would say it would be a catastrophe. Yea a catastrophe for the Shia who after Sadam's reign of terror over them (read here Sunni reign of terror) are now in control - of sorts.

[Goldfish]

12. Just my two cents, but....

hasn't history shown us that carving up a country into autonomous regions sets the stage for continued strife? Look at what happened after World War II--the creation of the following: North and South Korea, North and South Vietnam, and East and West Germany. Even Japan was going to be split, with Hokkaido going to the Russians. The Japanese are forever grateful to General McArthur for putting a stop to this. We no longer have a divided Vietnam and Germany. Maybe the day may come when there will be a unified Korea. Can you imagine what it would be like to have the US split into autonomous regions?
Dividing Iraq as mentioned in the plan above does not provide for equitable distribution of the major natural resource, OIL, which should be shared by ALL Iraqis! The Kurds in the north are already making their own private deal with a US oil company. Are they going to SHARE this profit with the rest of the country? Something tells me, not!
The Iraqis have their sectarian differences, but under their skin they are all Iraqis--they are all brothers! The US should be playing a role in helping them to resolve their differences and being a PEACEMAKER rather then a warmonger.
Of course this requires true diplomacy, which is sorely lacking in the Bush maladministration. The Iraqis ultimately have the right to determine their own destiny, not us!
The solution of divvying up the country sounds simple, but it would be like opening up Pandora's box!

[struggle4progress]

13. Ongoing conflict will provide the official excuse for a continuing military presence

<edit: forgot say> Welcome to DU!

[ronnie624]

14. Thank you.

The ruling elites in the US have no intention of leaving Iraq.

The current batch of lunatics who make policy for the US government, will see nothing but complete dominance of the region or global conflagration over hydrocarbon based energy, and nothing else.

The status quo must be maintained at any expense.

[Goldfish]

16. Thank you for the welcome!

Sorry to be so late in acknowledging your greeting.
It seems this idea of carving up Iraq is being discussed in several new threads. It worries me that some people seem so enthused about jumping on the bandwagon without considering the possible consequences. I feel so sorry for the Iraqis. Their country is being considered a colony that the US can just divide up. It's like having your home roped off into zones--the living area, the bedroom area, the kitchen and dining area--and being told that you will be allowed to live in one section only.

[ohio2007]

15. Who gave the US Senate the power to partition Iraq?

Eight Iraqi parliamentary blocs push for bill against US act

Politics 9/30/2007 4:28:00 PM



BAGHDAD, Sept 30 (KUNA) -- Eight Iraqi parliamentary blocs representing different ideological and political tendencies called Sunday for probing the recent act of the US Senate on splitting Iraq at an extraordinary parliament session.

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1845002&Language=en


Anybody have a link to this act of the Senate" bill ?
Who voted to partition Iraq?
..r was it one of those votes that were passed by voice only