Monday, February 20, 2006

An american sponsored islamist state




It may be the ultimate irony," commented Ambassador Galbraith, "that the United States, which, among other reasons, invaded Iraq to help bring liberal democracy to the Middle East, will play a decisive role in establishing its second Shiite Islamic state."
Saddam Hussein's regime, like most others in the region, treated its domestic opponents with shocking brutality. And like most of its neighbors (or, for that matter, most governments everywhere), the Iraqi government under Saddam was riddled with corrupt cronyism. But unlike Iran or Saudi Arabia, Saddam's Iraq was relatively secularist and actually imposed relatively few burdens on religious and economic freedom.
This is decidedly untrue of the regime being created in "liberated" Iraq. Much of the new "freedom" in Iraq being touted by the Bush administration comes from talk about the new constitution being drawn up by a Bush administration-influenced constitution drafting committee. The new constitution employs loads of pleasant-sounding platitudes, but its "Bill of Rights" is a much closer match to the old constitution of the Soviet Union than it is to the U.S. Bill of Rights.
The U.S. Bill of Rights offers unqualified guarantees regarding vital rights such as the right to freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly. This is demonstrated in phrases such as "Congress shall make no law ? abridging freedom of speech or of the press." But the Iraqi Constitution ? like the Soviet Constitution of 1977 ? "grants" these rights in one phrase while taking them away with a subsequent clause in the constitution.
? Iraqis have "freedom of religion" guaranteed in Article 20, but Article 22 states, "all thought based on sectarianism [and] accusations of apostasy ? are forbidden."
? Article 13 stipulates that "the privacy of houses is protected," but then says "except in accordance with the law."
? Article 8 says that women have "equality with men in all fields" but only when it doesn't disturb "the provisions of the Islamic shari'a."
Another key similarity between the Iraqi Constitution and the Constitution of the former Soviet Union is its codification of socialism as a form of collectivist "rights."
An early draft of the Iraqi Bill of Rights enumerated collective "rights," which empower the state to strictly control people, much like the Soviet Union or Ba'athist Party socialism previously practiced in Iraq.
Seems like something lies rotten in the "kingdom of Danemark". Perhaps, old goodie Dick can give us an explanation? When of course he gets back from hunting ducks, and occassionally, people...

2 Comments:

Blogger Harry Peitsinis said...

well just a focking test...home alone again, hah old buddy?

1:10 PM  
Blogger Harry Peitsinis said...

1,2

11:16 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home