The New Iraqi Government: An Interim Appraisal (Original Read!!)

Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs ^ | 01/06/05 | Amazia Baram

[Nate1984]

In the present government there are 10 Sunni Arabs, 14 Shi'ite Arabs, and 8 Kurds, plus 1 Turkoman and 1 Christian. The Kurds are all Sunnis, as is the Turkoman, making 19 Sunnis and 14 Shi'ites, which is very generous toward the Sunnis.

Historically, Iraq has been ruled by Sunni Arabs who represent a minority of some 15-18 percent in a state where 55 percent are Shi'ites and 18 percent are Kurds. As a result of the last war, all of a sudden Iraq is to be ruled by the majority and the Sunni Arabs feel they are being disinherited. The motivation behind the extensive terrorist campaign in today's Iraq is to reverse the results of the war and return the Sunni Arab minority to national hegemony.

The motivation behind the Shi'ite insurrection is more complex. Muqtada al-Sadr and his young, junior mullahs decided to challenge the tradition-based supremacy of the four grand ayatollahs, led by Sistani. Under him, young, unemployed, uneducated Iraqi Shi'ites hoped to become the equivalent of Ayatollah Khomeini's Iranian Revolutionary Guards...

[Nate1984]

Fascinating piece explaining how the insurgency came about, and how it is a necessary step for bring democracy into Iraq. A MUST READ

[Chgogal]

"The motivation behind the extensive terrorist campaign...."

OMG, I see the word "terrorist". Fine article. Thanks for the post.

[LibertarianInExile]

I was good with the article until:

"If al-Sadr and his supporters are offered reasonable places on the united Shi'ite election list, he is very likely to drastically reduce or even cease his military activities."

Translated: Give him what he wants and he'll go away.
Translated: Peace in our time in Baghdad!

Thank you, Mr. Chamberlain, er, Baram.

[FreeReign]

"If al-Sadr and his supporters are offered reasonable places on the united Shi'ite election list, he is very likely to drastically reduce or even cease his military activities." Translated: Give him what he wants and he'll go away.

It's worse than that: Give him what he wants and it's sorta-kinda-maybe likely that he'll continue military activity but the activity will be less then it was before.

LOL!