Iraq's neighbors untrustworthy, States' rights for Kurdistan, says Barzani

"Any vacancy left in Iraq by the coalition forces before Iraq is ready to stand on its own would be filled by those opposed to democracy. American credibility would dissipate, and any chance for success in Iraq would evaporate. . . . Hopes for real democracy in the Middle East will be history. The regional powers that border us have an interest in keeping us weak and divided.
. . . It is true we fly Kurdish flags. This is yet another similarity we have with Americans, who are proud not only of their country but also of the accomplishments and unique identities of their states. The harbinger of successful democracy in the United States was the willingness of its founders to recognize the particular interests of states and to craft a constitution to safeguard their rights. Baker-Hamilton would deny Iraqis the same rights and thus doom our efforts to construct a system in Iraq that protects all its citizens. It would strip Kurdistan of rights it has negotiated with the central government to protect it from abuses like those it has suffered in the past. We should not forget that over-centralization has been a disaster for the Iraqi people.
. . . Iraq's constitution should be treasured. Iraq's neighbors should not be allowed to violate our sovereignty. Democracy and federalism are the popularly chosen basis of the new Iraq."

Op-ed by Masrour Barzani, "director of the Intelligence and Security Agency of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq and a high-ranking member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party."

source
The Washington Post. For Iraqis, A Promise Is in Peril. December 20, 2006.

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posted: thursday, december 21, 2006, 5:16 PM ET
update: saturday, december 23, 2006, 12:46 AM ET

iraq federalism masrour barzani kurdistan states rights kurds