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Juan Cole's 10-Point Plan for U.S. Troop Withdrawal From
Iraq
Draft Constitution May Strip Iraqi Women of Basic Human Rights
Rev. Joseph Lowery: "The Mothers in Iraq Call Us the
Terrorists"
Juan Cole's 10-Point Plan for U.S. Troop Withdrawal
From Iraq
More than two years after the US invaded Iraq, there is
a debate in this country that is increasingly dominating the
public discussion on the occupation: the issue of withdrawing
US troops. We speak one of the most respected independent
Iraq analysts, Juan Cole, who released a 10-point plan, outlining
what he calls a responsible stance toward Iraq. [includes
rush
transcript - partial]
More than two years after the US invaded Iraq, there is
a debate in this country that is increasingly dominating the
public discussion on the occupation: the issue of withdrawing
US troops. Last month there were some indications coming from
senior U.S. commanders that the Pentagon could begin some
initial troop withdrawals sometime late next year but those
statements have since been clarified and in some cases outright
contradicted by senior administration officials, most importantly,
the President himself. But it is a discussion that is rapidly
making its way into the mainstream and one that both Democrats
and Republicans realize they cannot ignore. That is due in
no small part to the ongoing vigil in Crawford of military
families initiated by Cindy Sheehan.
There is an increasingly heated debate brewing on Capitol
Hill. In the Senate, Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold has
been focusing a lot of attention on his proposal calling on
the president to announce a clear timetable for beginning
the withdrawal. His effort is being bolstered by Republicans
like Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, who last weekend compared
Iraq to Vietnam drawing criticism from his fellow Republicans.
In the House, an unusual coalition is developing, led in part
by the man who proposed changing the name of French fries
to "Freedom Fries" in the Congressional cafeteria
-- North Carolina Republican Walt Jones. They too are asking
for a timetable.
This is also an issue very much on the minds of many in the
peace movement in the United States. Some are calling for
"US out now," while others are proposing a phased
pullout.
This week, one of the most respected independent Iraq analysts,
Juan Cole, released a 10 point plan, outlining what he calls
a responsible stance toward Iraq.
- Juan Cole, Professor of History at the University of
Michigan and runs a blog called "Informed Comment,"
which can be found at JuanCole.com.
Draft Constitution May Strip Iraqi Women of Basic
Human Rights
Iraq's parliament received a draft of the country's constitution
but delayed a vote for three days on the highly contested
document to win support from Sunni leaders. The document stipulates
Islam is the official religion of Iraq, and is a fundamental
source for legislation. We go to Baghdad to speak with Iraqi
feminist Yanar Mohammed. [includes rush
transcript]
Iraq's parliament received a draft of the country's constitution
less than five minutes before a midnight deadline on Monday,
but delayed a vote for three days on the highly contested
document to win support from Sunni leaders.
The delay came despite the requirement in the country's interim
constitution that the document be completed by a deadline,
which already had been extended a week.
At the heart of the dispute was the decision to largely exclude
Sunni leaders from the talks on the constitution. When the
Sunnis were finally brought into the negotiations on Monday
afternoon, they promptly rejected several of the constitution's
most fundamental provisions.
The principal unresolved issue is whether to allow a large
Shiite-dominated autonomous region in southern Iraq, which
also contains the largest oil fields. The two other main disputes
are whether members of the Baath Party would be barred from
working in government and how the president and prime minister
would be selected.
The coalition of Shiites and Kurds, which holds a heavy majority
in parliament, could easily approve the constitution on its
own. Sunnis hold virtually no parliamentary seats after boycotting
the January elections. But Sunni constitutional delegates
warned that civil war could erupt if the charter becomes law
over their objections.
U.S. officials reportedly played a major role in the drafting
of the document. Monday's outcome was welcomed in Washington.
In a written statement, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
said, "The process by which Iraqis have reached this
point is historic and in the best tradition of democracy."
But Iraq analyst Juan Cole writes today, "The rule of
law is no longer operating in Iraq, and no pretence of constitutional
procedure is being striven for. In essence, the prime minister
and president have made a sort of coup, simply disregarding
the interim constitution."
The draft constitution that was submitted stipulates Islam
is the official religion of Iraq, and is a fundamental source
for legislation and that no law can contradict the principles
of Islam. Women's groups are warning that the new constitution
could strip women of many basic human rights.
- Yanar Mohammed, Director of The Organization of Women's
Freedom (OWFI) in Iraq. She participated in a protest yesterday
along with dozens of other Iraqi women.
Rev. Joseph Lowery: "The Mothers in Iraq Call
Us the Terrorists"
As the antiwar vigil at Camp Casey continues outside President
Bush's estate in Crawford, we speak with the Rev. Joseph Lowery,
co-founder of Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
The antiwar vigil outside President Bush's estate in Crawford
continues to grow, despite the temporary departure of Cindy
Sheehan to care for her ailing mother.
The demonstrators camped out in the blazing sun have been
visited by Folk singer Joan Baez, Democratic Congresswoman
Sheila Jackson Lee and actress Margot Kidder. The Canadian
citizen said she became a US citizen last week so that she
could protest the war in Iraq without being deported.
Democracy Now! broadcast from Camp Casey on Friday and we
stayed on through the weekend to cover the story. Military
families, longtime activists and Iraq veterans were there.
One of those we spoke with was Reverend Joseph Lowery, co-founder
of Southern Christian Leadership Conference and chair of Coalition
of Peoples Agenda.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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