Lots of Iraqi Constitution diaries. But I haven't found any (although I'm sure they're out there, I just didn't find any) that address a very salient point brought to my attention by
The Rude Pundit. This Constitution is great and I have no idea why we shouldn't support it.
The "catch" is, of course, below the fold.
Iraq passed a Constitution that states that, although an Islamic state,
"freedom of religion and of religious practices is guaranteed";
Gives a SWEET deal to the Kurds by providing for
"two principal nationalities, Arab and Kurd. ... (and) autonomy for the Kurds in the region where they constitute a majority of the population";
unequivocally states that resources and finances gained by profiting from the sales of their huge oil reserves will be used for the national, common good by stating that
"National resources and the principal means of production are defined as "the property of the people";
and it also
"guarantees private ownership and individual economic freedom".
This whole section is amazing:
"Articles 19 through 36 of the Constitution spell out fundamental rights and duties in detail. The right to fair trial through due process, the inviolability of person and of residence, the privacy of correspondence, and the freedom to travel are guaranteed to all citizens. The Constitution also assures citizens of their right to religious freedom; to the freedom of speech, of publication, and of assembly; and to the freedom to form political parties, trade unions, and professional societies. The Constitution directs the state to eliminate illiteracy and to ensure the right of citizens to free education from elementary school through the university level."
It also guarantees rights to women and minorities.
And if all that weren't enough, get THIS:
The Constitution also requires the state to provide every citizen with employment and with free medical care.
And now, the catch. The above is from the Constitution that was established in 1970. Bush and Cheyney, et al. threw that one away and made the Iraqis try to write a new one. Which will definitely NOT include most of the rights and freedoms noted above. In short, all we had to do was say "You guys have a great Constitution in place, with a few nitpicky modifications (like the whole opposition to capitalism and Zionism stuff). Saddam Hussein pretty much ignored it. We think you should do your best to make it work."
But of course, it didn't just include socialist shit like free education and free health care, it actually specifically called it socialist. So it had to fucking go. Because Dubya and his band of robber baron buddies want that (blood for) oil money for themselves, not to go to a bunch of peace-hating, insurgent towel-heads. Even if it is their country and we made a lot of pretty speeches about how we're supposed to be helping the Iraqis. Fuck that! Do you have any idea how much money we're talking about here? This is business. Oh, and a bunch of dead American soldiers, but nobody important. Nobody they know anyway.