Senator Joseph Biden has been one of the few congressmen actively thinking about how to best structure our mission in Iraq and the Iraqi government itself.
Last September he encouraged compromise with Sunnis over Iraq's constitution. And yesterday, he presented an imaginative plan to quell sectarian violence in Iraq:
(A) leading Senate Democrat on Monday suggested the creation of separate, autonomous regions for Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to counter continuing ethnic and religious violence. (LA Times)
Bush, whose own plans-or lack of plans-for Iraq have proved disastrous, rejected the idea without considering it.
Nevertheless, the plan clearly has its merits, and the current course in Iraq is heading toward civil war and further hardship. Innovative solutions are necessary.
Autonomous regions do not mean that Iraq will be carved up into seperate countries. Several countries have autonomous regions with different degrees of autonomy.
Notably, China, which has dealt with ethnic sectarianism for millenia, set up autonomous regions in the 1950s to win the support of its non-Han minorities, who inhabit 60% of its land. And, the United States has its own autonomous regions for Native Americans.
Of course, both China's autonomous region system and the United States' reservation system are flawed and stem from violent, colonial histories. But, Iraq cannot avoid the violence and pangs of colonialism that it is already embedded in.
With a central government that coordinates various autonomous governments, Iraq could begin a dialogue about how to quell its ethnic violence. Or, the process of demarcating autonomous borders may instigate a new bloodier round of violence. But, these are the types of questions that should be explored by Iraq's people and politicians, not simply dismissed by Bush.
Bush's course in Iraq has only exacerbated the violence there. Three years ago, when Bush gave his "Mission Accomplished" speech, there were eight insurgent attacks a day. Today there are seventy five (Think Progress).
The Republicans, determined to show their blind support of their beleagured president, have offered no viable plans for Iraq. And, we are lucky to have a few Democrats willing to think creatively about the situation there and offer new solutions, rather than simply staying the course into an even bloodier civil war.
(cross-posted HERE.)