Shiite push for autonomy endangers Iraq's fragile coalition

[ECH1969]

Over the weekend, the head of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who is close to Iranian leaders, renewed his call for a massive eight-province southern autonomous region, stretching from Kut to Basra, that would include much of the country's Shiite population and oil wealth. Such a step, he suggested, is necessary to protect Shiites against a return to despotism.

Sunni Arab leaders responded swiftly, with a leader of their main political bloc, Adnan al-Dulaimi, issuing a statement Sunday calling for "all Iraqis - whether Sunni, Shiite, Arab, Kurd, Turkman, Muslim or Christian - to stand against this scheme."

Dulaimi warned that it was wrong to debate any proposal that could lead to autonomous regions until after Parliament had the chance to rewrite portions of the Constitution.
He was joined by an official from the secular coalition of the former interim prime minister, Ayad Allawi. Some Shiite legislators from the Fadhila Party and the coalition loyal to the rebel cleric Moktada al-Sadr say they are also concerned that Hakim' party is racing ahead too quickly.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/10/news/iraq.php

[acmavm]

1. Not one thing, NOT ONE, has worked out like the bush** admin

said it would. They wouldn't tolerate a religious theocracy, they wouldn't allow the break up of the country, it would be a slam-dunk invasion and occupation, the war would pay for itself, and everything else they said would happen has turned out the exact opposite.

Dick Cheney is such an absolute evil lying bastard moron.