Seemingly out of nowhere last week an obscure and opaque commission ruled that more than 500 candidates would be disqualified from the parliamentary vote — in most cases on the grounds that they once supported the Baath party of Saddam Hussein.
Among those proscribed are top Sunni leaders, including the serving defense minister and the head of a major political bloc. If the bans stand, an election that looked as though it would be one of the most free in the history of the Arab world would be badly degraded. At worst, the sectarian warfare that nearly tore Iraq apart could reignite.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…
While you are calling all over creation to urge congressmen to soldier on on healtcare, I ask that you also consider mentioning this.
With this issue, Obama has a chance to make a real difference in foreign policy, a real success out of Iraq, or failure. You might not like what Bush did there but it is in all of our interests not to let it crash and burn.
I’m not sure what the heck you’re suggesting we advocate in our calls to our Congresscritters.
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p>That the U.S. keep overthrowing the government of Iraq until the Iraqis install a proper democracy?
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p>The Bush Administration initially took an overly hard line against ex-Baathists — and, as a result, fueled some of the insurgency. I believe they softened by the second term, but the Shi’ites in Iraq have obviously not softened.
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p>Speaking of not softening: Some of the decrease in violence in Baghdad can be attributed to the Sunnis losing the civil war and leaving the city.
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p>So, yes, the political environment in Iraq does not look good for the Sunni minority. Not clear what Congress can do about that — never mind the Administration. Suggestions?
Is that we pressure Al Maliki to reverse the decision to toss tons of Sunnis off the rolls. Or, if you like, apologize him into doing it. Or use nuanced diplomacy.
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p>Obama is the man to do it but foreign policy awareness / moves / support do arise from congress from time to time. Your dems have his ear, quite clearly.
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p>Seems like you think the first middle east democracy (outside of Israel) is hopeless anyway, too bad. Maybe the whole thing can turn back into an unmitigated disaster, or worse, on Obama’s watch. You cool with that?
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p>I guess you can always keep blaming Bush.
It’s frankly odd to have the goal of democracy for Iraqis when Iraqis don’t particularly share that goal. This differs, in fact, from Iran which has a longish parliamentary history. Yes and of course, Maliki should be pressured. I do hope that that is happening. It would seem to be an essential part of trying to turn Britain’s invention into a national identity.
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p>As for Bush, might I point out that his Administration’s original stance was to encourage rather than reverse the exclusion of ex-Baathists.
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p>I am describing stuff that happened during the Bush Administration. If you regard ignoring the historical record as a meritorious position, may I suggest some psychotropic drugs might prove helpful for a re-acquaintance with reality?