Guardian: Iraq gamble as Sunnis left out of constitution deal

[mogster]

Iraq took a historic gamble yesterday when the ruling Shia and Kurdish coalition bulldozed over the objections of Sunni Arabs to finish a new constitution.
Frantic efforts to reach a consensus collapsed when a blueprint for a new democratic state which lacked the support of Sunni leaders was submitted to parliament, triggering what promised to be a bitter referendum battle.

Months of talks and weeks of deadlock ended when government officials gave up trying to placate Sunni negotiators, despite warnings of greater violence and inflamed sectarian tension.

President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, declared the document complete. "The constitution is left to our people to approve or reject it. I hope that our people will accept it, despite some flaws."

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1558602,00.html

[IndianaGreen]

1. The constitution also repeals women's rights gained under the Baathists

I think Iraqi women that don't want to be forced to wear the veil should join the insurgency and defeat this theocratic government.

The US ambassador to Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, said the stakes were high. "If the Sunnis do not buy into this draft then it would be a problem. It could assist the insurgency."

This scenario was predicted by antiwar activists back in 2003: topple Saddam and civil war will ensue.

[Strelnikov_]

2. But The Chimp Just Said This Was A Major Step Forward

We can see some kind of light at the end of the tunnel.