Bremer Hints He May Bar Iraqi Islamic Law

[CatWoman]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq (news - web sites)'s U.S. administrator suggested Monday he would block any move by Iraqi leaders to make Islamic law the backbone of an interim constitution, which women's groups fear could threaten their rights. Roadside bombs killed two more American soldiers.


The U.S. military also said Monday that gunmen killed an American Baptist minister from Rhode Island and wounded three other pastors in a weekend ambush south of the capital.


A grenade exploded Monday in an elementary school playground in Baghdad, killing one child and wounding four others. The children apparently triggered the explosive while they were playing, Iraqi police said.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=2&u=/ap/20040216/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

[bluestateguy]

1. That should not be our decision

As a supporter of the separation of church and state I certainly hope the Iraqis choose not to adopt an official state religion, but that is not Paul Bremer's or the US's decision to make. If we decide for them then Iraq is not really a democracy, but rather, a satillete state for the US.

[sendero]

3. I don't think....

... Bremer or anyone else from the US is going to have the final word on that subject.

[sushi]

5. Exactly

Bremer should be reminded that the coalition brought democracy to Iraq. Iraqis will not accept being a sattelite state of the US. In the coming democratic election, after Bremer has left, the Iraqis just might vote for an Islamic government.

[aquart]

9. They will vote decisively for whatever we're against.

So, thank you, Mr. Bremer for bringing sharia to Iraq.

[Aidoneus]

6. and it isn't his to begin with

Not that they give a damn for such things, but legally an occupying power has no right to alter the laws in the lands it occupies. This applies to this particular matter, and practically of the CPA dictates in general. But international law cannot selfishly put itself in the way of business interests, so this doesn't matter.

[Mountainman]

2. But it is OK to have our laws based on Christian Fundamentalism

"which women's groups fear could threaten their rights"

[benddem]

4. Oh Yeah

and the latest reason for our invasion is to make Iraq a Democracy.
Then how do we get the right to tell them what kind of govt. they will have...if they decide it. Just more *it from the * administration:nuke:

[einniv]

7. Well they were bound to get one thing right or at least some aspect

We should use our influence in what-ever ways we can to prevent this from happening. It would be a step backwards for Iraq.

[PragMantisT]

8. Of course, if they choose a Judeo-Christian basis

We'll send 'em plenty of Bibles and Ten Commandment monoliths, at absolutely no cost to Halliburton.

[Nihil]

13. They've been doing that already

(well, not the monoliths but lots of bibles).

IIRC, they've also been sending Christian missionaries too.

Nihil

[htuttle]

10. Sharia law in Iraq has been unavoidable since March 19, 2003

There was one primary secular organization in Iraq before that date, and the Bush administration destroyed it.

The only way a Sharia-law-based government could have been avoided in Iraq is if events had run their course over time, and Hussein and his cohorts been toppled in a secular revolution/coup. That way, the middle institutions of secular power, the criminal justice system, the professional class,health care system, etc..., would have remained intact. THEN it would have been possible to transition to a secular democracy.

As it stands now, secular power in Iraq is all blown to dust. There are only one or two remaining power centers in Iraq, and they are religious in nature -- except for the Kurds in the newly founded, but not yet declared, Republic of Kurdistan.

One last point. The harder we push down on Iraqi and their religious institutions, the more militant their religious power structures will become. Right now, Sistani is far more benign than the US probably deserves. We can easily make the situation much, much worse if the US stays there much longer acting the way the Bush administration has been acting...

[ScrewyRabbit]

11. And then the country will sink into civil war

It's a no-win situation.

[PsychoDad]

15. Somehow....

I cannot escape the conclusion that a divided Iraq is better for BusbCo than a united Iraq... And thus is what they want in reality.

[Voltaire99]

12. Bremer knows best!

Send a rich caucasian Christian to occupy an Arab nation if you want to get things done!

[Nihil]

14. "You can have democracy ...

... as long as you choose the same people we would ..."

Hmmm ... where else in the world do you find this?
(Clue: The Iraqis have obviously been hating them for their freedom.)

[PsychoDad]

16. In the minds and hearts of many muslims worldwide

Bremer has just acknowledged the Crusade for what it is. A war of theocracy and civilization. A war of conquest and conversion, Western American Christanity against Islam.

That's what it is. Bushco isn't even trying to hide the ugly truth.

[modrepub]

17. This needs explaining

So it's OK if Afghanistan does it but not Iraq. What gives here?