Iraq PM rebukes Kurds over flag

[sabra]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/6750BA88-AEC6-4D73-9CB8-E4C8E4BC2A5B.htm

Iraq PM rebukes Kurds over flag

Iraq's prime minister has issued a stern rebuke to ethnic Kurds after the autonomous Kurdistan region ordered the national Iraqi flag be replaced by the Kurdish tri-colour on government buildings in northern Iraq.

The office of Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister, issued a statement on Sunday that not only defended the national flag but implied that the Kurds' own banner was illegitimate.

"The present Iraqi flag should be hoisted on every inch of Iraqi soil until the parliament takes a decision about it," read the brief message, which did not refer directly to the controversy.

Al-Maliki is an Arab from the Shia Muslim majority

[dipsydoodle]

1. Some things were inevitable given time

and this is one of them. I believe that eventually Iraq will be comprised of three States and not one unified country. It's doubtful that the Kurds have any interest whatsoever in the American written Iraq constitution which is biased toward Iraq getting buttons for its oil.

[Eugene]

2. Just how does al-Maliki plan to enforce this?

He has taken a long time to respond to an outright challenge
to his authority. Iraq as a unified country is collapsing.
It may already be too late but, if the national government
is to survive, al-Maliki and the Coalition need to press
press Kurdish leaders to stay on board and deter others
from dealing with a Kurdish rump state.

[acmavm]

3. I'm sure the US neocon cabal will be overjoyed to see the Kurds walk

off into the sunset with the Kirkuk oil fields.

I don't know about the Sunnis and the Shi'ites though.

[ShortnFiery]

4. When do the Turks invade? n/t.