[Mb-civic] Iraq's fig leaf constitution

[ean at sbcglobal.net]

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-oe-
scheer30aug30,1,7493157.column

LA Times Op-Ed
Iraq's fig leaf constitution
by Robert Scheer
August 30, 2005

WHO LOST IRAQ? Someday, as a fragmented Iraq spirals further into
religious madness, terrorism and civil war, there will be a bipartisan
inquiry into this blundering intrusion into another people's history. The
crucial question will be why a "preemptive" American invasion - which has
led to the deaths of nearly 2,000 Americans, roughly 10 times as many
Iraqis, the expenditure of about $200 billion and incalculable damage to
the United States' global reputation - has had exactly the opposite effect
predicted by its neoconservative sponsors. No amount of crowing over a fig
leaf Iraqi constitution by President Bush can hide the fact that the hand
of the region's autocrats, theocrats and terrorists is stronger than ever.

"The U.S. now has to recognize that [it] overthrew Saddam Hussein to
replace him with a pro-Iranian state," said regional expert Peter W.
Galbraith, the former U.S. ambassador to Croatia and an advisor to the
Iraqi Kurds. And, he could have added, a pro-Iranian state that will be
repressive and unstable.

Think this is an exaggeration? Consider that arguably the most powerful
Shiite political party and militia in today's Iraq, the Supreme Council
for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq and its affiliated paramilitary force,
the Badr Brigade, was not only based in Iran but was set up by
Washington's old arch-foe, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It also fought on
the side of Iran in the Iran-Iraq war and was recognized by Tehran as the
government in exile of Iraq.

Or that former exile Ahmad Chalabi is now one of Iraq's deputy prime
ministers. The consummate political operator managed to maintain ties to
Iran while gaining the devoted support of Donald Rumsfeld's Pentagon,
charming and manipulating Beltway policymakers and leading U.S.
journalists into believing that Iraq was armed with weapons of mass
destruction.

Chalabi is thrilled with the draft constitution, which, if passed, will
probably exponentially increase tension and violence between Sunnis and
Shiites. "It is an excellent document," said Chalabi, who has been accused
by U.S. intelligence of being a spy for Iran, where he keeps a vacation
home.

What an absurd outcome for a war designed to create a compliant, unified
and stable client state that would be pro-American, laissez-faire
capitalist and unallied with the hated Iran. Of course, Bush tells us
again, this is "progress" and "an inspiration." Yet his relentless
spinning of manure into silk has worn thin on the American public and sent
his approval ratings tumbling.

Even supporters of the war are starting to realize that rather than
strengthening the United States' position in the world, the invasion and
occupation have led to abject humiliation: from the Abu Ghraib scandal, to
the guerrilla insurgency exposing the limits of military power, to an
election in which "our guy" - Iyad Allawi - was defeated by radicals and
religious extremists.

In a new low, the U.S. president felt obliged to call and plead with the
head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution, Abdelaziz Hakim,
to make concessions to gain Sunni support. Even worse, he was summarily
rebuffed. Nevertheless, Bush had no choice but to eat crow and like it.

"This is a document of which the Iraqis, and the rest of the world, can be
proud," he said Sunday, through what must have been gritted teeth. After
all, this document includes such democratic gems as "Islam is the official
religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation," and "No law
can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam," as well as
socialist-style pronouncements that work and a decent standard of living
are a right guaranteed by the state. But the fact is, it could establish
Khomeini's ghost as the patron saint of Iraq and Bush would have little
choice but to endorse it.

Even many in his own party are rebelling. "I think our involvement there
has destabilized the Middle East. And the longer we stay there, I think
the further destabilization will occur," said Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel
last week, one of a growing number of Republicans who get that "we should
start figuring out how we get out of there."

Not that our "what-me-worry?" president is the least bit troubled by all
this adverse blowback from the huge, unnecessary gamble he took in
invading the heart of the Arab and Muslim worlds. "What is important is
that the Iraqis are now addressing these issues through debate and
discussion, not at the barrel of a gun," Bush said.

Wrong again, George. It was the barrel of your gun that midwifed the new
Iraq, which threatens to combine the instability of Lebanon with the
religious fanaticism of Iran.


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