Word: sunni
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Arab states-following their obstructionism in calling for a postponement of the elections-has exposed that concern about the welfare of Iraqis as fraudulent. Their concern turns out to be their own narrow, often dynastic interests. Those Arab states are ruled by monarchs and dictators who are practically all Sunni. Iraq is about 60% Shi'ite. A democratic Iraq would inevitably become the Arab world's first Shi'ite-dominated state-a prospect from which the Arab leaders recoil for reasons of bias or fear. They also recoil from any demonstration of the possibility-indeed, the popularity-of free elections...
...Expect nothing from those Arab leaders. But what about the Europeans? They too were surprised by Iraqis' celebrating on election day. Their first instinct, like Kerry's, is to downplay. Hence the questioning of the legitimacy of the election on the grounds of inadequate Sunni participation. That concern for full participation in an Arab election is as touching as it is novel. Europeans have never had trouble recognizing the legitimacy of regimes in Cairo, Riyadh and Damascus, where there is no participation by anyone. Indeed, many Europeans championed the inviolability of Saddam Hussein's regime, under which election participation...
...Moreover, the entire argument about Sunni participation is empty. Yes, the legitimacy of the election would be in question if the government had denied Sunnis the right to vote. But low Sunni turnout was hardly the work of the Iraqi government. To the contrary: the coalition authority and provisional Iraqi government did everything they could to allow and encourage Sunni participation. U.S. and Iraqi soldiers died to protect poll workers and voters in extremely dangerous places. Americans are being told that they must now reach out to Europe and bridge the transatlantic gap created by the Iraq...
...stands, the only certainty is that the low Sunni turnout is not necessarily indicative of their unwillingness to cooperate in a democratic system. While some Sunni groups have voiced adamant resistance to representation within the new democratic government, there are no clear signs that the group as a whole rejects the idea of working with the Shiite majority or with the Kurds. What is known to all observers is simply that it is of the utmost importance that Sunnis are included in any new government that wants to have a chance of success. Gross under representation within the new parliament...
...presence of 150,000 foreign troops—and their efforts to “pacify” Sunni regions—has only nurtured and emboldened the most violent elements of the resistance, helping them recruit everyone from Iraqi nationalists to Islamist militants in their horrific campaign. If they saw the Americans leave, the first group would likely lay down their arms immediately, while the rest would instantly lose the support they rely...