By
Yasser Alaskary
January 6, 2004
- After
the capture of Saddam Hussein, a new Sunni
coalition has been formed, possibly indicating
an acceptance on their part that a return to minority-rule
is no longer possible. The coalition, which hinted to having
influence over the insurgents, comprises of Sufis, Salafis
and the Muslim Brotherhood and comes amid continued calls
for greater Sunni representation.
- If
current representatives are not very representative,
then better representation is required, not disproportionate
representation - the seats on the Governing Council
should not be set in stone.
- The
coalition seems to be fragile since Sufis are regarded
by Salafis as non-Muslims and the two groups are bitter
enemies.
- A
raid on a Salafi
mosque in Baghdad that is the headquarters
of one of the major groups in the coalition uncovered
mortars, grenades, and bomb making equipment, which
throws into question the groups sincerity.
- The
gradual maturation of Iraqi politics is seeing the crystallization
of the political spectrum into four groups: Kurdish, Sunni
Islamist, Shi'i Islamist and Secular. The latter group is
beginning to become more defined as a struggle is emerging
between Adnan
Al-Pachachi and Ayyad
Allawi for the support of ex-Ba'athist groups,
the Iraqi Communist Party and the National Democratic Party.
As Iraqi politics develops only one coalition can survive.
-
In other news:
- The
UN continue to resist
calls to send staff back to Baghdad, as the
Governing Council agree with Sayyid
Seestani to ask the UN to send a delegation
to assess the feasibility of elections for the transitional
parliament before June 2004.
- Baker's
mission is making progress as Russia,
China
and Japan
says they will forgive most of Iraq's debt.
- The
US is planning to create the biggest
diplomatic mission in the world in Baghdad
- effectively converting the CPA into the US Embassy.
However, this conversion should not translate into maintenance
of CPA power.
You
can find this online at http://www.iprospect.org.uk/na6jan.html
