Dividing Iraq

Federalism is the new stick that is being used to beat Arab nationalism, writes Zaid Al-Ali

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Almost a century ago, foreign powers waged war in the Middle East officially for the purpose of liberating the region from oppression. Although each of their local allies had been promised self determination, plans were being drawn up at exactly the same time to deny them this very right. The region was split into separate countries and minorities were granted favoured status over the majority.

The occupation of Iraq by the United States has reached a new and dangerous phase. A constitutional committee has been established and given the task of completing a draft constitution by 15 August, 2005. Most modern constitutions are written over a period of years, but Iraq has approximately two months to complete the task. The commission has been separated into six sub-committees, each of which is to deal with a separate issue, and one of the sub-committees has been given the task of dealing with the issue of what model of government the country should adopt, and more particularly, what type of federal model should be adopted. Although it is far from clear that a majority of Iraqis are in favour of a federal model of government, the choice has been imposed on them by the Kurdish minority and by the American occupiers. The way that this process is being carried out may determine whether Iraq is to remain a single country or not.

There is no agreement between the different parties

Al-Ahram Weekly Online : Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/748/re7.htm