Show of Shia power unsettles the allies

The Times (U.K.) ^ | 04/23/03 | Richard Beeston

[DannyTN]

It seems to me like the concept of the Senate with the states having equal representation as opposed to the house may have to play a more important role.

The shiites could therefore have at the state level something closer to the theocracy they want, but require the cooperation of both the Kurds, Sunni's and Christians to effect law at the national level.

Another idea might be to have one of the legislative bodies that is made up of representatives of the religious faiths with veto power held by each faith. That would prevent one faith from being trampled at the expense of the other or gerrymandering. As long as the faith has at least x members, the faith has equal representation in this body with veto rights. The downside is that it might make for bitter fights and constant stalemates. Of course the structure of veto overrides would be important.

Certain assets like the oil ports would need to come under federal control. You wouldn't want the Shiites to be able to shut the country down by shutting down the oil ports or taxing them excessively. Same with water.

[M Kehoe]

In the 1980s Shia militants used suicide bombings against US Marines and the American Embassy in Beirut to drive the US out of Lebanon...

Well, we have four division there, and the author of this piece makes a good argument to start killing large numbers of these bastards.

Methinks the Persians and Syrians better pay attention, there's a new big dog in the yard.

5.56mm

[DannyTN]

"This is going to be tough, and I think the U.S. is going to have to get tough to pull it off. "

I think there are certain segments that would like to impose their will on the whole country that the US will probably have to get tough with.

The weaker Federal system is going to be harder to pull off. I've been thinking about it and certain assets like oil and water will need to be under the Federal unbrella and not the state's. To weaken the federal system, you may need a predefined split up of the oil revenues and predefined limits on water taxation and usage.

[DannyTN]

If it comes down to a choice between two evils, we'll have to go for the lesser one.

We must not let it come down to that choice. Another government supporting terrorism cannot be an acceptable answer.

[DannyTN]

"None of us should have expected a liberal democracy to pop out of nowhere. "

One of the keys is a free press with a variety of view points expressed. The Iraqi's need to see the ligitimate concerns of the other groups. They need to see more ways of doing things than what the Shiite religious leaders are advancing. They need to think through the pros and cons of different systems.

It's going to be a massive education process to be able to hammer out a government that has substantial buy in from the populous.

[cynicom]

The time may arrive that we use the gun, or we walk away and leave them to their own misery. I suspect the latter.

[anniegetyourgun]

Col. Hunt is a gas. But Major Bob B. is often even more 'colorful' in his choice of words!

[onehipdad]

Re: Iranian meddling - recommended reading: The Hunt for Bin Laden reveals Iran's predisposition for screwing around outside its borders. (Can't wait for the hammer to come down and avenge the 444 days' imprisonment).

[FITZ]

Just what Iraq needs...an Islamic state like Iran has. With 60% of the population being Shia, the US has it's work cut out for it. They're the ones now calling for the US to leave now. They can hardly wait to install Shia law and cleanse Iraq of other factions.

But on the other hand, it could be the unraveling of the Shia control ----they're having enough trouble keeping control of the Iranians who are on the verge of revolution ----maybe the ayatollahs would be biting off more than they can chew by trying to control 40% of non-Shia Iraqis who probably would love to kill them.

[He Rides A White Horse]

They have also told American and British forces that they will not tolerate any prolonged occupation of Iraq.

Yeah right. Just like you refused to tolerate Saddam Hussein.

[manic4organic]

These Shiite-for-brains losers are so insane for their imaginary religion that many will have to be eliminated in order for the Iraqis with minds (and the rest of the world) to live in peace.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Brutalised by decades of oppression by Saddam, and incited by the clerics in Iran the Shias have wasted no time filling the power vacuum left by the overthrow of the Baathist regime.