Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - Iraqis Unite Against Splitting the Nation

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$14

Iraqis Unite Against Splitting the Nation

uncorrelated.com

Sen. Joe Biden’s plan to divide Iraq along sectarian lines has had an unintended consequence: It has united much of the country, Shiite and Sunni alike, in opposition to the measure.

Iraqis, it seems, are put off by the idea that their nation, for all its problems, is a plaything for an American politician—whether George W. Bush or Joe Biden—to shape.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has now joined that unlikely alliance of Iraqis, saying of Biden’s proposal: “Attempts to partition or divide Iraq by intimidation, force or other means into three separate states would produce extraordinary suffering and bloodshed.”

It should be noted that some like the idea of a decentralized Iraq, notably the Kurds, who already enjoy much autonomy, and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, which hopes to consolidate Shiite power.

New York Times:

Many Iraqi politicians have reacted angrily to the proposal, suggesting that at the very least they find it presumptuous. Opposition to it has even found currency on the street, where Iraqis have volunteered their opinion to American reporters they encountered. Said one, “So you are going to divide our country?”

At a joint news conference on Sunday, six diverse political parties that are discussing the removal of the current government objected to a divided Iraq.

“We think this would complicate the security problem and Iraq would undertake a long-term war and a civil war more than we have witnessed already,” said Basim Shareef, a member of the Fadhila Party, told reporters.

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TAGS: baghdad biden civil war embassy iraq kurds sectarian shiite sunni unity

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By rowdy, October 1, 2007 at 9:14 pm #
(300 comments total)

biden is obviously a fucking idiot. iraq is a democratic society, bush says so. so who are we to decide their future. what a fucking joke, they have a puppet government and biden knows this. we call all the shots, purple fingers or not. while i’m at it i’ll have another shot of smirnoff,or absolut. democracy my ass, caesar was assassinated by the senate. i love all the asses in that sentence. our gov.is run by a lot of asses.

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By Trigger finger, October 1, 2007 at 12:48 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Who the hell are these people to question Joe’s/George’s wisdom?

Someone please inform those who do question that they will get their fair share of what anything that is left over! Man this endless bickering over what is now King George’s Middle (America) East treasure is getting on my nerves and now that most of the dirty work is done, Biden wants to stick his nose in and lap up the glory. Well, just stay the hell out Joe!

George is doing just fine and has everything under control. I know, most of you won’t realize this for at least another 50 to 75 years, but just take his word for it. After all, has he ever done us any wrong?

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By purplewolf, October 1, 2007 at 12:33 pm #
(567 comments total)

SO NOW THAT THIS GOVERMENT FEELS IT HAS THE RIGHT DO DIVIDE IRAQ INTO THREE SEPERATE STATES,DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE ADOPTED THEM AS THE 52-54TH STATES OF THIS COUNTRY ASPUERTO RICO IS 51ST.AND IF WE HAVE ADOPTED THEM,DOESN’T THAT MEAN THEY WILL FOLLOW US HOME?

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By past glory, October 1, 2007 at 12:26 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Let me start by stating that I am not an american citizen. Who do you guys think you are? Who are you to divide their country?

On second thought, It doesn’t surprise me. Most americans are settlers from imperial medieval Europe. Most of the world knows what your policy is. Divide and Rule. Old habits die hard.

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By QuyTran, October 1, 2007 at 9:41 am #
(843 comments total)

This guy is shameless, stupid, arrogant...as his king

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By Non Credo, October 1, 2007 at 6:12 am #
(1148 comments total)

Our legislature has no authority to rule whether somebody else’s country is to be partitioned.

And if you hope the Iraqis will of their own volition decide that partition is a good idea, about the worst way to accomplish this goal is to have the hated US government pass a law saying it must be done.

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By Jan, October 1, 2007 at 3:14 am #
(10 comments total)

Kurds have already been told by their neighbouring countries Iran, Turkey and Syria that they will not allow the transporting or piping of any oil produced by an independent acting “Kurdistan”. All “Kurdistan’s” neighbours do not want an independent Kurdish state coming from Iraq. Quite understandably they fear that soon their own Kurds will want to break away too. NO. Independence starting with the Kurds, or even a very loose federation starting with the Kurds will not work because the neighbourhood won’t allow it even if Biden will. Nationalist Arabs of Iraq, Sunni and Shiite alike, are finding they are more against the American occupation and possible Kurdish separatism than they are against each other.
.

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By glenn, October 1, 2007 at 2:58 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Segregate like-minded, intransigent religious zealots into their own special “time out” zones, and then set up actual borders?

That would NEVER work. Besides, the Iraqis are getting along so swimmingly well as they are...with Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites living as next door neighbors, inviting each other to summer barbecues and holding hands while singing Kumbaya....

Yeah, like things could get worse?

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By Thomas Billis, September 30, 2007 at 10:13 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

They say there is no comedy in the Moslem world.Okay no parition, get along, make nice with each other and I hope we will be gone.I said I hope because I have felt from the beginning of the invasion this was about oil and the Iraqi people were a secondary consideration.

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