BETTER THAN THE EXPLOSIVE BELT:

Does the Shi'ite turban fit? (Nir Rosen, 11/07/03, Asia Times)

Iraq's two main radical Shi'ite groups have recently slightly moderated their position on the United States, seeking to be included in the administration of the country, and to avoid punishment. Sheikh Mohammed al-Yaqubi's Fudala group and Muqtada al-Sadr both issued statements that indirectly recognized the legitimacy of the US occupation, though it is clear that their followers still despise the US, and "the Jews". [...]

[Sheikh Ali al-Ibrahimi] complained that the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) "was chosen by the Americans and they weren't chosen democratically". He announced four suggestions made by Yaqubi to legitimize the council. Yaqubi's first proposal was to add two seats to the council so that the 26 seats would each represent a million Iraqis. "Bush and [chief administrator L Paul] Bremer should know," he warned, "that there are millions of Shi'ites who follow the Hawza [Shi'ite religious academy in Najaf] and they are not represented by the IGC. Thus people cannot work together or help the IGC and people cannot trust the members of the IGC because the actual Iraqi leaders are not part of the council."

Ibrahimi called for one seat on the revised council to represent the followers of Mohammed Sadiq Sadr, the dead father of Muqtada Sadr, with whom Yaqubi is competing to claim sole representation of the slain Sadr's followers.

Ibrahimi reported that Yaqubi's second suggestion was to limit the ability of the IGC to issue unpopular decisions, such as its recent decision to permit certain non-Iraqi citizens to obtain citizenship. Ibrahimi warned that "if Jews reside in Iraq, then they will become Iraqi citizens and they will own Iraq and we will be their guests". He explained that the founders of the US initially feared letting the "owners of money" enter the country, but that "this happened when the Jews came and the Americans and others became their guests".

"How can the IGC members issue a decision if there is no constitution to derive it from?" Ibrahimi demanded. He called for a constitution and suggested that until then "the IGC should issue temporary decisions and these will help the wounded Iraq wake from its current problems".

Yaqubi's third recommendation was to strengthen the ability of the IGC to make independent decisions that would hold.

It's not important that they embrace America or Israel right off the bat, just that they reject Islamicism and Sunni totalitarianism. The desire of their own people for a functioning economy and a healthy state will turn their attention inwards and away from us.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 6, 2003 8:29 AM