In policy reversal, US signals possible acceptance of theocracy in Iraq

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States signaled its readiness to put up with an Islamic theocracy in future sovereign Iraq (news - web sites), with Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) saying the US administration "will have to accept" any government created as a result of free and fair elections there.

The remark, made in an interview with NBC television, marked a policy reversal for the administration of President George W. Bush (news - web sites), which up to now had vowed to fight tooth and nail any attempt by Iraqi Shiite leaders to follow in the footsteps of their brethren in Iran.

The policy of resisting future Islamic rule in Iraq has been repeatedly spelled out by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who stated publicly a year ago that "a vocal minority clamoring to transform Iraq in Iran's image will not be permitted to do so."

US occupation authorities have also resisted attempts by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and other leading Shiite clerics to insert clauses in Iraq's provisional constitution that would have established Islam as the philosophical foundation of future legislative activities.

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http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040516/pl_afp/us_iraq_iran_religion_040516113703

a theocracy in Iraq - just like the one they've established here
:dem:

All those people dead for a THEOCRACY????? I give up, the inmates truly ARE running the asylum now. x(

WMDs, 9-11 ties, liberation, democratization, and, now, theocracy. What hotel has the best roof-top for the fall-of-Baghdad helicopter pickups?

"possible acceptance" means "inevitable" in this case.

They may have figured out that the only group capable of seizing control is the clerics. So much for imposing a democracy by force.

We've spent 777 American lives. An unknown number of Iraqi lives. Thousands of Americans wounded and maimed, blinded and burned. Some number of dollars I can't begin to imagine.

And we've taken out Saddam, who wasn't particularly dangerous to us. So we can get a theocracy that will probably hate us.

My, what brilliant strategy! Because if it isn't brilliant, it's insane. And I don't like to think about that possibility. :scared:

then they can announce that Muslins have taken over the Middle East and it's time for a Crusade.

The fundies will wet themselves.

It started over there more than a year ago.

The Iraqi people WERE better off under Saddam.

:puke:

Negroponte will get the death squads up to speed fairly quickly after the 30th, and we can just follow the south american model.

Dead people don't vote or hold office. If the people you don't like are dead, no problem.

n/t

They flop at everything, and can't even do it well; they're flops at flopping.

:crazy:

Pat Robertson will become an imam. The US Embassy in Baghdad will be built like a mosque.

I think Gordon Liddy is the architect.

...they accept one HERE.

I guess "freedom ordained by God" or whatever that religious delusion Bush voiced during his last press conference got trumped by 2004 election concerns. I wonder if "God" will be pissed at Bush...

JB

Dear God! They know not what they do!

They haven't a clue. They've rowed themselves out into the middle of the ocean and then let the paddles drop into the drink. And WE are, figuratively speaking, that boat. Fuckers.

where they think they're most vulnerable. Hear a nasty claim from Rove&co: sure as shit, they've decided they can be hit on a closely related issue. It's no accident they're attacking Kerry for "flip-flops": it means they're scared somebody will notice theirs!

shouldn't be surprised as they are trying so hard to create one here. Bet the fundy freaks are gonna LOVE this one.

to put saddam's statue back up

Every day I wake up and am astounded at the incompetents that are running our country. This was the foregone conclusion from the very beginning. We will declare victory and retreat very soon.

theocracy like Saudi Arabia and not like Iran, way wouldn't the U$ accept it.

"I TOLD YOU SO!"

:kick:

I heard on TV that Bush & Blair are talking about an exit plan. It seems that they both want to get re-elected. As long as the new Iraqi regime sells them oil for petro dollars all will be fine.