Re: "Can you point me to this?"
I forget the exact Clause number from the new Iraqi Constitution --- but it was WIDELY reported in most of the news relating to the extended negotiations towards acceptance of the new Constitution.
It was the *main 'hangup*, the main reason it took so long to pass the Constitution --- so it was widely reported on both BEFORE (and AFTER) it was finally accepted. They argued about it for MONTHS. The Sunnis walked-out over it.
Any news search about the problems in the many-months-long Constitution approval process will not doubt refer to this last, and *biggest* obsticle the negotiators faced. (I read about it in articles in the NYT and the Wash. Post... but surely there were many others).
"Not that I don't believe you, but it is hard to believe that the percentage of government wealth will based on your religion."
No. You've got that WRONG. It *isn't* officially 'based on religion' --- the 'split' refers to how much of the revenue from 'NEW', or from 'OLD' (existing) oil production is RETAINED BY THE PROVINCE WHERE IT IS PRODUCED, AND NEVER SENT TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD (where it would go, presumably, for the needs of *all* of Iraq, not just for the people of the provice where it was pumped)... although that, too, would be up to the politicians in the Iraqi Parliment where the Shi'a and Kurds hold effective control.
In the big SOUTHERN oil producing regions of Iraq (in the South, near Kuwait and near Iran) these areas are dominated by mostly Arabs of the Shi'a branch of Islam --- so THEY are the ones who would benefit from keeping the money from oil pumped on their lands in THEIR hands, instead of sending it in to the central government --- unlike the case under Saddam, when it ALL went to Baghdad.
In the NORTHERN oil producing region of Iraq, the area is majority populated by Kurds (not Arabs), of several faiths: Sunni, Shi'a, Christian, etc. The same '80% split' deal on whatever is classified as NEW PRODUCTION that would benefit the Shiites in the South, stands to benefit the Kurds in the North.
The Sunni Arabs --- who are only a majority population in the 'Sunni Triangle', which mostly lies to the West, and immediately around Baghdad --- are unfortunately living in areas where there is no oil under them... so this new 'provincial/central government split deal' promises to cut them off from most of the oil revenues. They ain't happy....
Re: [WHICH SIDE is THAT?] "All the people in the country that don't kill people for having different beliefs. The ones that want a peaceful and prosperous future. Why is that so hard for you to understand?"
But... THAT AIN'T A 'SIDE'!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unless you can point me to some sort of inter-faith PEACE Party or something, about which I am unaware, then you aren't helping me pick the "side" you said we should be militarily supporting!
(PS --- I'm all for the US standing for peace, justice, Democracy, and prosperity, and we should do this regardless --- but that doesn't mean we can't be consistent to those values and still stand aside from the civil war between the various sides... NONE of whom can be said to have clean hands.)
Re: [Southern Iraq is increasingly in the hands of fundamentalist Shi'a, and is effectively run by Shi'a militias... while the Sunnis in the central and western areas are increasingly radicalized and fundamentalist.] "The new gov't with the help of the Americans (and coalitin partners) must solve this."
How the Hell is *that* gonna happen?
Are we gonna tell them they can't have DEMOCRACY anymore, because we DON'T LIKE the sorts of people they vote into office. (All of these government folks were ELECTED. The will of the people was expressed.)
Same as anywhere, same as here, in a Democracy the people get what they 'deserve'. (Democracy doesn't GUARANTEE freedom: remember that Hitler was elected.)
"Would be great if some other countries would help us out."
I think you can count THAT out. :-)
By the end of this year ALL of our 'allies' will be out of Iraq, (except for Great Britain... they won't finish their pull-out until probably next summer). And, when we are finally out, Iran will be the dominant influence. |
