The vote in Iraq on the constitution
The Joys of Democracy
Yet again, Iraqis are asked to brave death to vote, this time for a constitution shaped by their occupiers, which they have not read and which can be changed at will by politicians.
The Joys of Democracy
As anarchists argued before the US-UK invasion of Iraq, any claims
that this was a war of liberation were false. Rather, it was an
imperialist war, waged under the flimsiest of rationales, in which
the victors would shape Iraq as they desire. Due to mass protest by
Iraqis themselves, the occupiers have been forced to present a fig
leaf of democracy.
The first such concession was the election last January. While the
bravery of Iraqis in voting cannot be denied, the election itself was
a farce. With even the names of candidates not revealed to the
electorate, it is hard to say what, exactly, the voters were voting
for. With the US imposed super-majorities required to elect a
government, it was guaranteed that occupier friendly politicians
would be selected -- as they were.
Needless to say, the hype that the elections would mark a turning
point was as false as that accompanying the numerous previous turning
points. This has not deterred the proclamation of the next turning
point, namely the approaching referendum on the new Iraqi
constitution. That this will be as false as previous ones seems
obvious. The constitution has been shaped systematically by the US
occupiers, who have specified what is acceptable and what it not. The
badgering by US diplomats of Iraqi politicians continued up to the
last, ostensibly to ensure changes that would overcome Sunni
opposition to the document.
As it is, many Iraqis do not have a copy of the proposed
constitution and so they are being asked to vote for a document most
have not seen. Perhaps just as well, given that the US thinks it can
keep on writing provisions just a few days ahead of the vote making
any documents currently published potentially out of date. That,
however, is not all. The Shiite and Kurdish parties have agreed that
the newly elected parliament after December 15 will reopen
negotiations with the Sunni Arabs on the constitution. This means
that Iraqis are now being asked to vote on a constitution that may be
subsequently changed. So not only are the people being asked to vote
for something most of them they have not read, those who have read it
do not know if it will be implemented!
This does not mean that many in Iraq will not vote for the
constitution. They want to take control of their own country and many
see a constitution as the means to do this. However, voting for
something they have not read which can be changed at will by
politicians is hardly a step towards that goal. It will, however,
make good PR for the occupiers and that is why it is being pressed
upon them.
One thing is sure, the constitution (accepted or not) will not end
the insurgency, particularly as the occupier's hand is so noticeable
on the constitution itself. What can be done to correct the situation
in Iraq? Nothing, unless the US does what it will never do and end
its occupation. Nor will the constitution ensure self-determination
for Iraqis (with or without the US) as it will, at best, delimit the
powers of the politicians and bureaucrats who will, in reality,
determine their fate. Sadly, this is what they will get -- unless
they create self-managed alternatives to the joke which passes for
democracy under capitalism.
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