Juan Cole

Cobban on Interim Constitution Veteran journalist Helena Cobban has more discussion of the Fundamental Law signed Monday, its implications for Iraq, and the continued reservations about it coming from the Shiites.

3 Killed, 20 wounded as Tens of Thousands of Kurds March in Joy in Kirkuk The Guardian reports that tens of thousands of Kurds marched in Kirkuk to celebrate the signing of the interim constitution. They incorrectly believed that it accepted a consolidated Kurdistan and gave Kirkuk to the Kurds. Oil-rich Kirkuk, with a population […]

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani’s Fatwa This is what was at the site of Sistani: ” In the name of the Most Exalted Grand Ayatollah Sistani has already clarified his observations on the agreement of November/15th (and maintains) that any law prepared for the transitional period will not gain legitimacy except after it is endorsed by […]

Turkey on Interim constitution: “It Increases our Concerns.” The new Iraqi basic law deeply angered the Turkish government by offering what it saw as a dangerous degree of autonomy to the Kurdish regions. AFP reported, ‘ “The interim law does not satisfy us, it increases our concerns,” Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said. “We see it […]

Saddam never asked for Nukes to be Reconstituted: Top Iraqi Scientist AP reports that Jafar Dhia Jafar, father of Iraq’s nuclear program, is denying that Saddam ordered the program started back up after 1991. Contrast this report with Vice President Dick Cheney’s statement on 3/16/03, “We believe Saddam has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.” Now, […]

Kaplan on Chalabi and Sistani Slate’s Fred Kaplan has an interesting article on the recent gyrations of Ahmad Chalabi, who has been aligning himself lately with Grand Ayatollah Sistani, though he initially defied Sistani after the later challenged the November 15 agreement. I speculate, as quoted in the piece, that the turning point was when […]

Cole and Astrabadi on Lehrer Newshour Head’s up, I’ll be on the Lehrer Newshour this evening 3/8 (many of you have asked for such alerts).

Mogadishu and Deja Vu All Over Again The 7 rocket strikes at the al-Rashid Hotel and the Baghdad Headquarters of the Coalition Provisional authority wounded an American contractor, but otherwise managed to do relatively little damage if the press is to be believed. Some buildings did get set on fire and sent up black towers […]

Basic Law Signing: “Fallout from Crisis Remains Hamza Hendawi of AP reports today on the signing of the Basic Law in Baghdad. The five Shiite hold-outs decided to sign “for the sake of national unity” despite severe reservations about some of the clauses. In particular, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani had signalled to them his objection […]