Iraqi Constitution approved by Voters
Discussion
BBC Article
Iraqis approve new constitution
Iraq's new constitution has been approved, according to official results from the nationwide referendum held earlier this month.
Opponents of the constitution needed two-thirds of voters in three provinces to reject the document, and seriously delay the political process in Iraq.
But electoral commission officals said 44% of voters in the key province of Ninevehhad endorsed the constitution.
This means only two provinces voted "No" by the required margin.
Electoral commission officials told a news conference that overall, 78% of voters backed the charter and 21% opposed it in the vote on 15 October.
Iraqis approve new constitution
Iraq's new constitution has been approved, according to official results from the nationwide referendum held earlier this month.
Opponents of the constitution needed two-thirds of voters in three provinces to reject the document, and seriously delay the political process in Iraq.
But electoral commission officals said 44% of voters in the key province of Ninevehhad endorsed the constitution.
This means only two provinces voted "No" by the required margin.
Electoral commission officials told a news conference that overall, 78% of voters backed the charter and 21% opposed it in the vote on 15 October.
Trooper2 said:
Now if only Bush and cabinet can vote on an exit strategy.....Oops! I guess they would have to figure out what that is first!......
Well maybe, just maybe, their exit strategy is having the Iraqis approve a constitution, then elect a government under that constitution, and leave them having made sure they are capable of running their own affairs.
scorp said:
Now if only Bush and cabinet can vote on an exit strategy.....Oops! I guess they would have to figure out what that is first!......
Well apart from another bloodbath in Iraq, what will us pulling out achieve?
That's why they need an exit strategy, they should have been working on one before we ever went in and they didn't.
Jaglover said:
If i was an Iraqi i think i would be more concerned with things blowing up than i would about any constitution. What difference will this make to ordinary Iraqi lives ?
"Those who would trade freedom for security deserve neither"
Sorry, part of my brain seems to be sleeping today, i don't do cryptic, care to elaborate ?
andy mac said:
Thats great news. Now that they have voted for a constitution, all the insurgents will go away with their tails between their legs... What a result.
Quite. I don't think this is going to make one jot of difference, as illustrated by the huge cement mixer, packed with explosives, detonating on TV yesterday showed.
968 said:
Thats great news. Now that they have voted for a constitution, all the insurgents will go away with their tails between their legs... What a result.
Quite. I don't think this is going to make one jot of difference, as illustrated by the huge cement mixer, packed with explosives, detonating on TV yesterday showed.
Exactly.. Instead of voting, maybe the local Iraqi's should be 'snitching' on the local rebels/terrorists/freedom fighters, (depending on what side you are sat on)... That would do a lot more for peace, and limb retention than a constitution.
scorp said:
scorp said:
If i was an Iraqi i think i would be more concerned with things blowing up than i would about any constitution. What difference will this make to ordinary Iraqi lives ?
"Those who would trade freedom for security deserve neither"
Sorry, part of my brain seems to be sleeping today, i don't do cryptic, care to elaborate ?
I'm saying you need more than basic security ; the right to elect a government of your choosing is a crucial right, which we would not abandon in the face of a Terrorist threat so why should the Iraqis?
andy mac said:
andy mac said:
Thats great news. Now that they have voted for a constitution, all the insurgents will go away with their tails between their legs... What a result.
Quite. I don't think this is going to make one jot of difference, as illustrated by the huge cement mixer, packed with explosives, detonating on TV yesterday showed.
Exactly.. Instead of voting, maybe the local Iraqi's should be 'snitching' on the local rebels/terrorists/freedom fighters, (depending on what side you are sat on)... That would do a lot more for peace, and limb retention than a constitution.
Just because it isn't a direct solution for the most pressing problem(s) facing Iraq today in and of itself doesn't mean it isn't part of the overall solution. No one is claiming its a magic wand, but it is a step foward. I have to say I find your cynicism rather excessive.
Its a small step in the right direction, it has to be viewed as positive - even after the bomb attacks of the last few days / weeks / months.
As with all of these things (take Ireland for example) its the small minority who maim, kill and murder - not the majority. It seems that the majority do want democracy and do want to move forward with self-rule. But the minority do want to disrupt this as much as possible. Iraq does seem on an inevitable path now - either civil war or progressive democratisation of its government. Time will tell which it will be.
But, what I would say is lets not forget that we are back down to the good old problem of power and religion. A majority of these "freedom fighters" are not actually Iraqi in the first place - most are foreign fighters from neighbouring states. Where does their loyalty lie there then? Having a stable government or de-stablising the country to keep theirs dominant? Or how about the anti-Western hatred from the religious teachings? What are they trying to achieve? Finally, its the Sunni's (IIRC) who were the dominant minority under Saddam - now their control and influence is diminshed, they are again trying to revert back to the old days. Again its about power and control....
For me, it shows that the average Iraqi does want to do something - for all of the fear of torture and death, they still turned out to vote. Testiment to the bravery they are showing given the current situation.
Ask yourself one question - would you vote given the same circumstances?
As with all of these things (take Ireland for example) its the small minority who maim, kill and murder - not the majority. It seems that the majority do want democracy and do want to move forward with self-rule. But the minority do want to disrupt this as much as possible. Iraq does seem on an inevitable path now - either civil war or progressive democratisation of its government. Time will tell which it will be.
But, what I would say is lets not forget that we are back down to the good old problem of power and religion. A majority of these "freedom fighters" are not actually Iraqi in the first place - most are foreign fighters from neighbouring states. Where does their loyalty lie there then? Having a stable government or de-stablising the country to keep theirs dominant? Or how about the anti-Western hatred from the religious teachings? What are they trying to achieve? Finally, its the Sunni's (IIRC) who were the dominant minority under Saddam - now their control and influence is diminshed, they are again trying to revert back to the old days. Again its about power and control....
For me, it shows that the average Iraqi does want to do something - for all of the fear of torture and death, they still turned out to vote. Testiment to the bravery they are showing given the current situation.
Ask yourself one question - would you vote given the same circumstances?
AlexH said:
Just because it isn't a direct solution for the most pressing problem(s) facing Iraq today in and of itself doesn't mean it isn't part of the overall solution. No one is claiming its a magic wand, but it is a step foward. I have to say I find your cynicism rather excessive.
You misunderstand what i was trying to say. Its all very well having a constitution, but its going to make no difference at all to the insurgents. The point I was trying to make was that it is the responsibility of the Iraqi people to halt the insurgents, as much as anyone else, and its all very well voting for a constitution, but if the native population do not take action against the terrorsits/insurgents, it will be a mute point, as nothing will have changed. The occupying force will still be there, and so will the insurgents.
You are assuming the native population are one indeterminate mass.
The insurgents launch their attacks from Sunni Arab areas where they have widespread local support.
Thus 75% of the population support democracy, but the 25% who don't are not spread evenly throughout the country but concentrated in certain areas..
The insurgents launch their attacks from Sunni Arab areas where they have widespread local support.
Thus 75% of the population support democracy, but the 25% who don't are not spread evenly throughout the country but concentrated in certain areas..
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