Iraqi election officials have announced that the post-Saddam Hussein constitution has been approved in the national referendum. It is a "constitution of division" with distinct differences between ethnic and religious factions.
78.6 percent voted in favor of the new constitution, and 21.4 percent voted against it. That is almost precisely the population ratio of the Shias and Kurds who had a leading role in drafting the document and the Sunnis who opposed it. Iraq is in the course of splitting into at least three, according to where those groups reside. The constitution calls for regional autonomy and the division of oil income, and so is actually inciting the regional rivalry. Insurgent attacks by Sunnis, who held power in the past but are now the minority, are becoming fiercer as time goes on. Early last year there were less than 200 attacks a week. As of early this year the frequency rose to 400 a week until this month, where there have been 700 a week. There are increased concerns that the country is gradually moving down the road to civil war. It is a terrible nightmare in the land of the birth of human civilization.
The day the results of the referendum were announced the number of US military deaths topped 2,000. The percentage of Americans who think the war is justified has fallen to the low 30's. There are renewed, massive anti-war protests calling for US troops to withdraw. The number of Iraqis who have died is at least ten times more than the Americans. The administration of George W. Bush is unyielding, however. Having invaded Iraq on false pretenses, it now says the reason it continues the occupation is to suppress insurgent elements. The idea is to keep going no matter how many are sacrificed.
The main responsibility for the division in Iraq lies with the US for weakening it through divided rule and trying to maximize on the oil interests there. The US needs to accept the demands of Iraqis and the international community by withdrawing quickly and supporting the construction, by Iraqis, of a unified state. The same goes for Korea, which is hesitating about what to do for fear of offending the US.
The Hankyoreh, 27 October 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Who Will Be Responsible for a Divided Iraq? |
