Guardian Unlimited | World Latest | More Changes Said Likely to Iraq Charter

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The Iraqi constitution is a done deal. Except it isn't. Iraqi law says the draft document can't be changed. Except it may. The Sunnis, led by "prominent leader" Adnan al-Dulaimi, call for a Sunni Boycott of the constitution referandum on October 15th. They refuse to accept the draft as it is now:

In Baghdad, Saleh al-Mutlaq, a Sunni negotiator, said rumored plans to add a reference to Iraq's Arab League membership would not be enough to overcome Sunni objections.

He said the Sunnis were demanding ``clear wording saying that Iraq is part of the Arab nation'' but the main sticking point ``is federalism,'' which they fear would lead to the breakup of the country.

Al-Mutlaq called on all Iraqi sects and ethnic groups to set aside their differences ``to form an anti-constitution front.''

On Tuesday, hundreds of Sunnis rallied three miles north of Ramadi to denounce the proposed constitution.

Protesters carried portraits of former dictator Saddam Hussein and al-Sadr, who also opposes the draft, along with banners reading ``No to federalism, no to dividing Iraq.''

Sunni Arabs form about 20 percent of Iraq's 27 million people but are the majority in four of the 18 provinces. Under elections rules, a ``no'' vote by a two-thirds majority in any three provinces would defeat the referendum.

Captain Ed believes the Sunnis backed themselves into this corner:

The Kurds and Shiites attempted to compromise with the Sunnis, even going as far as an offer to reinstate the Ba'ath Party, minus any support for Saddam and his propaganda. They offered to postpone any motions for federalism, keeping the concept but not exercising it until the next Assembly could get elected, save for the Kurds' hard-fought autonomy. In return, the Sunnis submitted a new list of demands in the final hours, demonstrating their bad faith and determination to sink any agreement that did not restore them to power.

That may well be the case. The Sunnis appear determined to salvage whatever political power that they can. The terrorists from the domestic side need to keep the Sunnis feeling disenfranchized if they hope to continue their campaigne. Fomenting a full-scale civil war that discourages the US and UK from remaining in Iraq would serve their purposes far too well. With their access to funding from sympathizers across the Arab World and beyond, not to mention the expertise of Ex-Saddamite intelligence and military assets, the Iraqi terrorists could establish a dictatorship in short order. If the Sunnis on the street know this, they don't appear to show it. Yes, there has been fighting between Sunni tribes and Al Zarquowis' terrorists. But has there been clashes among Sunnis themselves? I didn't think so.

If Democracy has any shot at working in Iraq, the Sunnis street needs to be convinced that it's in their best interest to cooperate. If it takes some post-legal changes to the constitution to an admittedly obstinate faction that's shown bad faith, then so be it. If the Sunnis don't step up, the entire future of a constitutional Iraq remains in jeopardy. The Iraqis need to make this happen. The US needs to do whatever she can to see that it does.