The American Constitution is one of the most brillantly simple works in history. It would be good for the Iraqis to copy it.
Joe Miller - 08:09am on 09/24/2006
Actually the model they’re proposing would have a much weaker federal government than what we have.
I think it may be a good idea, but an independent Kurdistan is very worrisome to Turkey as you probably know.
gregdn - 09:09am on 09/24/2006
gregdn: Those of us who are conservative would like a weaker federal govt in this country, as well.
I guess Turkey will just have to make peace with the Kurds, then, won’t they?
robert108 - 09:09am on 09/24/2006
Our heritage of federalism is an excellent model for Iraq. It’s tough to implement because of the unique configuration of Iraq’s interest groups, in which both religion and ethnicity come into play. These two factors have affected our own history, of course, but so much of our growth as a republic was accomplished quietly, by people getting on with their lives in a non-political context. Politics erupted now and then in American history; important changes occurred, but how can we compare the Iraq tinderbox to anything since our own Civil War? We use our model because there is none better, but fingers must remain crossed.
Elliot Essman - 09:09am on 09/24/2006
EE: We lack the ancient tribal rivalries, overlaid with a totalitarian religion, that Iraq has. The comparison with the US isn’t accurate, for the above reasons.
robert108 - 09:09am on 09/24/2006
Robert:”
I guess Turkey will just have to make peace with the Kurds, then, won’t they?”
I’m sure you know it’s lot more complicated than that. Syria and Iran also have restive Kurd populations. The PKK (which we’ve designated a terrorist organization) is staging attacks on Turkey from Iraqi Kurdistan.
This could possibly drive our NATO ally Turkey into an alliance with Iran and/or Syria to end the drive for an independent Kurd nation.
Something to think about when we contemplate giving a Kurd area of Iraq more independence.
gregdn - 10:09am on 09/24/2006
Actually the model they’re proposing would have a much weaker federal government than what we have.
greg,
Isn’t that the model we had here in the US before FDR and the liberal Democrats took control of the federal government in 1932?
Bat One - 10:09am on 09/24/2006
Bat One:
Yes, it is much closer to what we had prior to 1932.
We didn’t have ethnic or religous differences threatening the Union.
gregdn - 10:09am on 09/24/2006
Actually the model they’re proposing would have a much weaker federal government than what we have.
I think it may be a good idea, but an independent Kurdistan is very worrisome to Turkey as you probably know.
WHAT they are proposing seems more like what the Muslim Chechens rebels in Russia have been fighting for.
..a region for Iran to love, ..a region for Saudi Arabia to love, and a region for Turkey, Iran and Syria to hate.
aNONOMISLY - 10:09am on 09/24/2006
...there will be an increase in the entensity secterian fighting and blood shedding before all is said and done, as both the Shiites and Sunnis will try and get as big a pie of the current Iraq as they can.
The American Constitution is one of the most brillantly simple works in history. It would be good for the Iraqis to copy it.
Actually the model they’re proposing would have a much weaker federal government than what we have.
I think it may be a good idea, but an independent Kurdistan is very worrisome to Turkey as you probably know.
gregdn: Those of us who are conservative would like a weaker federal govt in this country, as well.
I guess Turkey will just have to make peace with the Kurds, then, won’t they?
Our heritage of federalism is an excellent model for Iraq. It’s tough to implement because of the unique configuration of Iraq’s interest groups, in which both religion and ethnicity come into play. These two factors have affected our own history, of course, but so much of our growth as a republic was accomplished quietly, by people getting on with their lives in a non-political context. Politics erupted now and then in American history; important changes occurred, but how can we compare the Iraq tinderbox to anything since our own Civil War? We use our model because there is none better, but fingers must remain crossed.
EE: We lack the ancient tribal rivalries, overlaid with a totalitarian religion, that Iraq has. The comparison with the US isn’t accurate, for the above reasons.
Robert:”
I guess Turkey will just have to make peace with the Kurds, then, won’t they?”
I’m sure you know it’s lot more complicated than that. Syria and Iran also have restive Kurd populations. The PKK (which we’ve designated a terrorist organization) is staging attacks on Turkey from Iraqi Kurdistan.
This could possibly drive our NATO ally Turkey into an alliance with Iran and/or Syria to end the drive for an independent Kurd nation.
Something to think about when we contemplate giving a Kurd area of Iraq more independence.
greg,
Isn’t that the model we had here in the US before FDR and the liberal Democrats took control of the federal government in 1932?
Bat One:
Yes, it is much closer to what we had prior to 1932.
We didn’t have ethnic or religous differences threatening the Union.
WHAT they are proposing seems more like what the Muslim Chechens rebels in Russia have been fighting for.
..a region for Iran to love, ..a region for Saudi Arabia to love, and a region for Turkey, Iran and Syria to hate.
...there will be an increase in the entensity secterian fighting and blood shedding before all is said and done, as both the Shiites and Sunnis will try and get as big a pie of the current Iraq as they can.