Iraq’s US-picked leaders were able to adopt an interim Constitution last week, working overtime past the midnight February 28 deadline. Generic compromises were reached on the most sensitive issues, left to be argued passionately over the coming months.
Paul Bremer, the Viceroy, umm, top US administrator in Iraq, met with members of the Iraqi Governing Council on Saturday in a last-minute attempt to hammer out differences between the various factions. The issue of Islam’s role has been a particularly sensitive topic, especially since Bremer had threatened to veto any Constitution that would set up Iraq as an Islamic republic. Another hardline Middle Eastern Islamic republic as a result of Operation Enduring Halliburton? Mission Accom … oh, never mind.
All sides were pushing to get their interests satisfied in the interim Constitution since it will likely be the basis for a permanent version to be finalized by the new government in June (or July or, say, 2015). Fundamental disagreements still exist between internal factions despite the compromises reached on the interim document; most of these arguments are likely to continue while the final draft is being hammered out. As a matter of fact, disagreements remain not only between the various Iraqi factions, but between all those factions and the US overlords as well.
The Iraqis are looking for a US-style Bill of Rights that will guarantee religious freedom. The Bush administration agrees wholeheartedly and is willing to allow Iraqis to be any Protestant Christian denomination they choose, provided they include an amendment banning gay marriages and abortions: “We might as well get that stuff taken care of upfront.” The Iraqis want freedom of speech and assembly, and the US is offering to establish free speech zones for them in an undisclosed third country. And after decades of oppression under Saddam’s rule, Iraqis also seek freedom from fear. Bremer has graciously offered them their own customized version of the Patriot Act (Total Information Awareness database not included). Welcome to the American fold, Iraqi brothers — where’d you like your Wal-Mart?
This article appears in Mar 3-9, 2004.
