Posted on 02/19/2006 4:48:26 PM PST by jmc1969
Efforts to form a government of national unity in Iraq are floundering amid concerns from Kurds, Sunni Arabs and secularists at the "undue influence" within the ruling Shia alliance of the militant anti-western cleric al-Sadr.
The firebrand - whose support was crucial to last week's controversial re-nomination of the prime minister al-Jaafari - threw the nascent talks into disarray at the weekend, saying he opposed Iraq's new federal constitution and repeating calls for the withdrawal of US and other foreign forces.
"I reject this constitution which calls for sectarianism and there is nothing good in this constitution at all," he told al-Jazeera. He added that the withdrawal of foreign forces "should be the priority of the future Iraqi government."
The tortuous negotiations over policies and posts in the new government begin in earnest this week, but most say it will take weeks if not months until Iraqis see the first full-term administration since the fall of Saddam. Mr Sadr's supporters also ruled out the inclusion of the former prime minister Ayad Allawi in any future government.
"[Allawi's] participation in government is a red line for the Sadr stream," said Fatah al-Sheikh, a pro-Sadr member of the national assembly.
The blunt statements by Sadr are at odds with his partners in the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri), as well as with the powerful Kurdish bloc - the UIA's junior coalition allies. Both Sciri and the Kurds back the constitution and rule out a firm date for troop withdrawal. The Kurds say they will not join any administration unless it includes Mr Allawi's list.
Iraq's leading non-Shia parties are also mounting a bid to block the reappointment of al-Jaafari as prime minister, citing his previous ineffectiveness in office and his "political debt" to Sadr.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
sadr the rat needs to be under the first wave of attacks that Iran takes.
Snuff Mookie!
Someone needs to dispatch this guy.
I wouldn't worry too much about this guy. He is a pawn of Iran and everyone in Iraq knows it.
OPINION - Al-Sadr has never seemed to desire unity. If he has, I must have missed it.
Democracy is a bitch, ain't it?
He wants the military to withdrawl so he can complete the "islamic revolution" he tried in Karbala a while back and got his ass royaly kicked.
He's a stooge for the mullahs in Iran and takes his orders from them.
He should have been trolling for virgins two years ago.
Mr Colt (or Mr Browning) call your office.
Well....he did "accomplish" putting the current prime minister in office. Sadr is only a bit more extreme than his Shi'ite allies, who normally can do wrong in freeperland.
My thinking too. If Iran moves to close the Straight of Hormuz effectively cutting off half of Iraq's revenues, we're gonna see some serious political realignments.
Sadr needs to go to the gym more and to the mosque less.
"Mr Sadr...you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting...you will assume room temperature as soon as it can be arranged...that should be the priority of the future Iraqi government."
Exactly !!he is an Iranian stooge who should have been terminated long ago.
What do you expect from Amahdenajads (sp) brother...
Do you suppose the Iraqis understand that they are perhaps the last best hope for Islam on this earth?
He should have been taken out by now !
Somebody needs to shoot this one.
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