Iraqi Shiite finalize draft charter

[bemildred]

Baghdad, Aug 27 - Iraq's Shiite majority made its final proposals on the text of a new constitution Friday.

"We reached today the final limit beyond which we can't move any further," said Jawad al-Maliki, number two in the Shiite Dawa party of Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari.

"Our final proposal stipulates removing all obstacles to federalism and putting every obstacle in the path of the resurrection of the Baath party and continuing to prosecute its leaders," he told reporters.

Iraqi major cleric, Ayatollah Ali Sistani himself appealed to people to participate in the upcoming October 15 referendum on the constitution.

IRIB

[iconoclastic cat]

1. Yes, that'll get them to come around! Persecute them! Yeah, that's it...

[NYC]

2. I have seen more headlines indicating the draft

has been "finalized" and fewer indicating there is a problem. Most of the headlines make it sound as though they are adhering to Bush's schedule. Never mind the missed deadline.

[bemildred]

4. Gotta stay on script.

It's unfortunate when reality doesn't go
like it's supposed to, that's the problem
with having all these amateurs involved,
but the show has to go on.

[saigon68]

3. Iraq, it turns out, is the one branch of American government

Iraq, it turns out, is the one branch of American government that the Republicans don't control.

[bribri16]

5. The Baathists had Iraq in pretty good condition when they were in

control. Most of the party was made up of the brightest Iraqis from all sects. If you wanted to work and have a decent job you had to belong to the party, consequently the most educated, most talented people belonged to the party (doctors, teachers, engineers, scientists, etc.). Why do you think that Iraq is in such chaos now? Its because the people who know anything about running a country and keeping order are all mostly insurgents now or have fled the country.

[bemildred]

6. Or are dead. nt