Posted on 08/26/2005 2:22:24 PM PDT by AntiGuv
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A top Sunni Arab negotiator said Saturday that no agreement has been reached on the draft constitution and called on Iraqis to reject it in an Oct. 15 referendum. A government spokesman indicated talks were hopelessly deadlocked and said "this is the end of the road."
The Sunni negotiator, Saleh al-Mutlaq, made the statement on Al-Jazeera television after Sunnis studied compromise proposals offered by the Shiites on federalism and purges of former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party.
"The issue of division through federalism is on the table," al-Mutlaq said. "The Iraqi people have to give their word now and reject the constitution because this constitution is the beginning of the division of the country and the beginning of creating disturbance in the country."
Asked about Shiite offers, he replied: "We are still far from what we need and what the people need."
A Shiite negotiator, Khaled al-Attiyah, said a "consensus" had been reached on the charter and an amended version would be sent to parliament Saturday. Asked about that, al-Mutlaq said simply: "Let them."
That suggested the Shiites and their Kurdish allies might be prepared to send the document to the assembly without Sunni concurrence.
"This is the end of the road," Government spokesman Laith Kubba told Al-Arabiya television. "In the end, we will put this constitution to the people to decide."
About damn time....we all know what the Sunnis want....and it's never going to happen.
I love that "this is the end of the road".
And his alternative to working to change it is????
Ah, well, hopefully their will be enough to get to a vote of some kind...but I want them to be "told" that it is better to get things RIGHT than do it too fast...
Like the 'rats, they can't stand being out of power...
Yup, the Sunni leaders' sole purpose is to do as much as possible to discredit the process. That will add fuel to their terrorist buddies' perverse cause. But it is encouraging that the current document will go to the Iraqi people for a vote. Let us hope the Sunnis themselves have more sense than their representatives (if the Iraqi parliament is of similar calibre to US Congress, then that could well be true).
Execute Hussein now!
I predict that a completely different headline will appear shortly. This is what happens when you write a Constitution. Which could be why Britain chooses to go without.
Agreed. They never wanted a deal, leave them behind.
That may happen by the end of the year, doesn't his trial start in October?
Federalism ain't so bad, really.
the sunnis have a choice, which is more than they gave. once this deal is done the new gov. can officially deal with the invaders from syria , house of saud and iran.
Fine by me. If the Sunni's want to mimic our Democrats, let them dig their own graves.
Like the 'rats, they can't stand being out of power...
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Good analogy. These are just troublemaking, losers who cannot get along without corrupt power and control -- JUST LIKE OUR SCUMBAG LIBS.
I wonder if this is really the end of the road, or just the last feint by the Sunnis to get as much out of the deal as they can. Kind of like haggling at the car dealership. You threaten to walk out on the deal -- and even make a motion towards the door -- but have every intention of buying the car.
This is a job for Mother Sheehan! Mighty Mouse is a Republican so we are counting on Mother Sheehan to "save the day". Let's send her, Al Sharpton and The Neo Nazi Skinheads to negotiate with the Sunnis and then we could have Michael Moore film the "peace" talks. After its all over, Hanoi Jane could write us a book about it.
I can hear Kerry now" I voted for the Iraqi constitution BEFORE I voted against it!"
Don't make me come over there and do your constitution for you.....guarenteed, you won't like it!
Michael Moore could feed 500 starving Sudanese.
Their first mistake was not participating in the elections earlier this year. This will be their second mistake. I'm beginning to think they ain't too sharp.
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