Article

2005-02-06 Iraq-Jordan

Iraqi Shia leaders demand Islam be the source of law

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Posted by tipper 2005-02-06 8:50:36 AM|| || Front Page|| [11130 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I suspect that this is a "pro-forma" declaration. Sistani realizes that only a tiny minority, around 3%, want a religious government, but they could be really pestiferous if they want to be. So the solution is to eventually create "blue law" towns, much like what used to be in the US, where the retentives can go and there will be no alcohol, no prostitutes, etc. Then make it clear that they can have things their way if they live in Hickville, but if they try any nonsense in "the big city", they will get seven bells stomped out of them.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-02-06 10:39:02 AM|| 2005-02-06 10:39:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 I have no problem with their position as long as it is backed by the elected parliament and the heads of government continue to be chosen in fair elections. I sure wouldn't make that choice, but it is THEIR choice.

Posted by Tom 2005-02-06 10:46:45 AM|| 2005-02-06 10:46:45 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Amen Tom, as long as the 'basis' of their laws respects the rights of other to whorship this should not be a problem. Sistani is not going to follow the Iranian model, he knows they are ripe for revolution from the younger crowd. It's only a matter of time until they have had enough and plunge the country into civil war. Sistani would face an instant civil war (by the Kurds and the Sunni) if he tried to install a Theocracy. But I bet the LLL and MSM are looking for any sign of a Mullacracy so they can yell "We told you so!"

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2005-02-06 11:11:02 AM|| 2005-02-06 11:11:02 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 You don't usually start negotiations with your fall-back plan. (Unless a reporter publishes it first.)
Prediction: The democratic give and take in Iraq is going to be very noisy and rude, sort of along Israeli lines, and is going to scare the bejabbers out of the MSM who will regularly report that all parties are intransigent and the sky is falling. And the Iraqis will manage to back-room compromise their way along OK.

Posted by James 2005-02-06 12:59:11 PM|| [http://www.idontknowbut.blogspot.com] 2005-02-06 12:59:11 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Lol - my first take on this was to back off, go do something else for awhile and then come back to see if it still made me want to spit, heh. KhaleejTimes, of course, is pushing its agenda... Excellent commentary folks (Thx!) - puts this in perspective.

Posted by .com 2005-02-06 1:16:35 PM|| 2005-02-06 1:16:35 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 Noise and invective are normal for young democracies. It's part of the people exploring their new freedom and its limits. Coupled, of course, with a culture drunk on words. Not to worry, they should calm down in a decade or two, just like the U.S. did back in the day. Actually, it's quite endearing that the Iraqis are so enthusiastic about the whole thing.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-02-06 1:40:22 PM|| 2005-02-06 1:40:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 "The democratic give and take in Iraq is going to be very noisy and rude, sort of along Israeli lines, and is going to scare the bejabbers out of the MSM..."

I think it's gonna scare the bejabbers out of me, too. But I figure I've got no choice but to suck in my gut, grit my teeth and cross my fingers while watching the Iraqis try to make this thing work.

I sure as hell hope it does. Because if it doesn't, the consequences are too horrible to contemplate.

Posted by Dave D. 2005-02-06 1:43:07 PM|| 2005-02-06 1:43:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 To my mind, Sistani is the classic ward politico per Chicago : make a lot of noise for the press, and cut deals in the backroom. The noise is for public consumption and pressure on the other side, what is actually decided involves goodies all around : people get reconstruction contracts with built-in 1% "add-on" costs, family and supporters get jobs, services are provided with only a little padding of costs, and everyone gets something to take home to the voters.

Posted by Shieldwolf 2005-02-06 2:12:43 PM|| 2005-02-06 2:12:43 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 I heard that this was false. I heard that one of his aides came out and said that Sistani never said such a thing.

Posted by JackAssFestival 2005-02-06 8:35:31 PM|| 2005-02-06 8:35:31 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 #3 Cyber Sarge: I presume you mean "rights of others to WORSHIP?"

#8 I hope and Sistani's backroom deals actually do work out for the public good. The comparision to the first Daley Regime gives me the willies: the ward heelers' inability to make real policy and their fudging the books and their neglect of minorities ruined Chicago's schools and played merry hell with the infrastructure.

The people the Iraqis elect need to learn how to run things properly really fast. I hope most Iraqis realize that whatever respect they may have for clerics, The Turbans probably don't know how to get the garbage picked up on time.

Posted by mom 2005-02-06 9:14:45 PM|| 2005-02-06 9:14:45 PM|| Front Page Top

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