Draft Iraq constitution calls country "federal"

Reuters ^ | 8/22/5

[SmithL]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A draft of Iraq's constitution to be put to parliament later on Monday calls the country "federal" but does not define the concept in detail, a copy of the text seen by Reuters says.

The document describes Iraq as a "republican, parliamentarian, democratic and federal" state, but does not define specifically the degree or nature of the federalism that Kurds and some Shi'ites are seeking in parts of the country.

The lack of definition would appear to offer a compromise to the Sunni Muslim community, in an effort to ensure the constitution is approved. Sunnis are staunchly opposed to federalism, particularly for Shi'ites in the south.

Some Sunni Muslims said they continued to be adamantly opposed to the constitution despite the softer wording, but their protests looked unlikely to be able to prevent the draft being presented to parliament.

The draft must be approved by a simple majority of the 275- member National Assembly. Hussain al-Shahristani, the deputy speaker of the assembly and a Shi'ite, said earlier that he expected it to pass by "much more" than that.

If the document is approved, it must be put to a referendum by October 15. If any three of Iraq's 18 provinces reject the referendum by two-thirds or more, the constitution will be rejected.

Some Sunnis have already said they plan to mobilize their community to try to have the constitution rejected in October.

[adam_az]

Thomas Jeffersons, they ain't.

[epluribus_2]

The 20% Sunnis will oppose any language that prevents them from asserting their natural control over the remaining 80% Shia, Kurds, and Christians... too bad.

[advance_copy]

Saddam Hussein's government supported terrorism and harbored terrorists. Today, the interim government in Iraq condemns and fights terrorists. The permanent Iraqi government (established by their constitution to be adopted today and ratified in October) will condemn and fight terrorism. Iraq is a major victory against the Osama bin Laden and he knows it.

[NC28203]

>>>Thomas Jeffersons, they ain't.

Thomas Jefferson did not participate in our Constitutional Convention. He was serving as America's envoy to France. Also, remember that our Constitution came about after six years of experience with an earlier federal union, the Articles of Confederation.

[KevinDavis]

Some freepers need a lesson in American History again!!!!

[adam_az]

I mean in spirit and political viewpoint, not as in direct parallel.

[RightWhale]

They may have several somewhat independent states under the federal gov't.

[SmithL]

They may have several somewhat independent states under the federal gov't.

How about:

The Kurd Ward,
Shiite Hole, and
Sunni Beach?

; )

[weegee]

Is this shorter that the EU constitution?

[nuffsenuff]

Any word on the role of religion?

The omission in the article leads me to believe that Sharia Law has not been written into the draft.

[antiRepublicrat]

Sunnis are staunchly opposed to federalism, particularly for Shi'ites in the south.

I guess they don't realize that a constitution has to be a compromise. Ours has some really big compromises in it, it passed, we organized into a powerful state. Later we fixed the worst one (slavery), although we neutered a good one (election of senators).

[antiRepublicrat]

Thomas Jefferson did not participate in our Constitutional Convention.

But he was corresponding with and giving advice to those who did. He didn't get his way on some things, but his will is present to some extent.

[The_Reader_David]

Could someone give the Sunni delegates a good talking to about federalism as a better guarantor of minority rights than a unitary state? Hmmm? Please?

Sheesh! I mean it's the Shi'ites that should be militating for a unitary state if everyone over there were power-hungry, but they're all in favor of federalism (thanks to al Sistani, who for all his pronouncements carefully worded to avoid 'siding with infidels' has been objectively pro-American throughout the entire war and occupation, and seems to 'get' our constitutional history).

[WOSG]

"But he was corresponding with and giving advice to those who did. He didn't get his way on some things, but his will is present to some extent."

I hadn't heard that before and I have my doubts it is true,
given the state of communications back then (ie it would take months for a letter to go round-trip to Paris).
Moreover, he was an anti-Federalist.
I'd like to see Jefferson's first statements of support for the Constitution, ie his first reactions to it.

[WOSG]

"(thanks to al Sistani, who for all his pronouncements carefully worded to avoid 'siding with infidels' has been objectively pro-American throughout the entire war and occupation, and seems to 'get' our constitutional history)."

I'm glad another freeper sees Sistani as a benign force in Iraq ... he's saved our chestnuts multiple times now, and is giving good advice to Iraqis.

[COBOL2Java]

Is this shorter that the EU constitution?

I would hope so. The London telephone directory is shorter than the EU constitution!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The United States, an another major country, had a federal form of government from 1792 until 1932.

[COBOL2Java]

I guess they don't realize that a constitution has to be a compromise.

I think that was one of the hardest concepts for our Founding Fathers to work through as well.

[Warren_Piece]

Here's what they are saying at Iraq The Model:

Regarding Islam and the constitution: it was agreed upon that no laws that are against the widely agreed upon values of Islam can be issued and no laws that are against the values of democracy and human rights can be issued. Natural resources according to the draft will be managed in cooperation between the central government and the local administrations of the federal states/provinces