Taking Iraq apart

[Briar]

Taking Iraq apart

The constitution to be voted on tomorrow will hasten the country's
descent into partition

Salim Lone



Just 36 hours before voting began in the referendum on the constitution, Iraq's parliament finally added a clause indicating that the new charter would be "a guarantee for the unity" of the
country. But even if the referendum being held tomorrow approves
the proposed constitution, this clause will do nothing to prevent
Iraq having one of the weakest central governments in modern
history, and possibly splitting up as a nation. Many had feared
that would be the outcome of the Anglo-American war and occupation. Others had actually planned for such an outcome.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union 15 years ago and Saddam Hssein's invasion of Kuwait, partition had been seen by US
hardliners as the surest way of weakening the most powerful Arab state not in the American camp.

The constitution cedes almost complete territorial control and
authority to the regions of the three principal communities. This
includes oil revenues, which would put Arab Sunnis at a big disadvantage since almost all the oil is produced in Shia and
Kurdish regions. The constitution also prevents former members of the Ba'ath party, to which most Sunnis belonged, from holding
public office. The document will alienate yet more Sunnis, and be
another impediment to Iraqis working together again.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1592165,00.html

(edited to reduce to four paragraphs)