Shiite Ayatollah.. Warning UN Against.. Charter Endorsed by US

[DeepModem Mom]

New York Times:

POLITICS
Shiite Ayatollah Is Warning U.N. Against Endorsing Charter Sponsored by U.S.
By JOHN F. BURNS

Published: March 23, 2004


BAGHDAD, Iraq, March 22 — Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has warned of "dangerous consequences" if the United Nations endorses the American-sponsored interim constitution for an independent Iraq that was adopted over Shiite protests two weeks ago.

The warning came in a letter released by Ayatollah Sistani's office on Monday, four days after it was delivered in New York to Lakhtar Brahimi, the chief United Nations envoy to Iraq. It amounted to a warning that the ayatollah's followers, by far the most powerful political bloc in Iraq, could move to paralyze American plans for a smooth transfer of sovereignty on June 30 unless Shiite terms for changing the interim constitution were met.

Ayatollah Sistani warned in his letter that he would boycott a coming visit to Baghdad by Mr. Brahimi, refusing to "take part in any meetings or consultations" conducted by him or his emissaries, unless the United Nations offered guarantees that it would not endorse the interim constitution.

After nearly a year of discounting the value of a United Nations political role in Iraq, the Bush administration shifted its position recently, saying it strongly favored the United Nations having a part in helping to establish an interim government and organize elections....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/international/middleeast/23IRAQ.html

[lindashaw]

1. This has the potential of being the proverbial straw that breaks the

camel's back. If this hand-over isn't successful, Bush will have a really hard time winning the election. To say nothing of Iraq errupting into civil war.

[0007]

2. The U.S. is playing with fire if it listens to Ahmed Chalabi

Al-Sistani wields great influence over Iraq's Shia community. His reservations held up the signing of the interim constitution for days. His latest objections could jeopardise the US handover deadline, or at least undermine the legitimacy of any Iraqi government that assumes power.

Under the interim constitution, direct elections for a transitional government, which will oversee the writing of a permanent constitution, must be held by January 2005.

[yltlatl]

3. Chalabi

I would say the U.S. has already gotten its hands well burnt by listening to that crook.

While this administration hardly has a monopoly on foreign policy hubris, it's really, really amazing how arrogant they can be. Do they really think that the rest of the world is inhabited by half-wits? Al Sistani now has a political cat o'nine in his hands and I doubt he'll let up on the lashings any time soon.

[NNN0LHI]

6. The US did NOT get their hands well burnt by listening to Chalabi...

...as you suggest. He told Bush and his minions exactly what they wanted to hear. He was their patsy right from the get go.

Don

[cspiguy]

7. and the CIA has never believed him

n/t

[UpInArms]

4. related article: Handover plans in disarray

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Iraq/0,,2-10-1460_1502066,00.html

excerpt:

Sistani "does not wish to be part of any meetings or deliberations with the UN mission unless the United Nations adopts a clear position saying that the fundamental law is not binding to the (Iraqi) National Assembly", his office wrote.

The letter demanded that the interim constitution not be mentioned in "any new UN Security Council resolution about Iraq".

Sistani "fears that the occupation authority would try to include this law in the new Security Council resolution, allowing it to gain international legitimacy that would be binding for the Iraqi people", it said.

The law is aimed at seeing Iraq through the transition to general elections under a permanent constitution by the end of January 2005.

[cspiguy]

5. Al Sistani - looking over shoulder and looking up

methinks he should be wary of nearby helicopters if he keeps talking like that after this past weekend.

[truthspeaker]

8. So, he's saying the people of Iraq should have the ultimate say in

the makeup of their own government. What a radical concept.