I receive updates from Iraqi Prospect on an irregular basis. Today, the one I received addressed UN involvement in their affairs. The Shia are not pleased about this:
In a recent press conference announcing his proposal for Iraq’s transition, the UN Special Envoy revealed his loathing of Iraq’s departure from minority dominance by blasting the de-Ba’athification process. Brahimi?s obvious lack of impartiality fuelled Iraqi opposition last month to his latest visit. Ayatullah Sistani has made it clear that he will not receive Brahimi and it is not hard to understand why.
I agree. Brahimi’s plan calls for the government to be headed by a president, prime minister, and two vice presidents. It is typical bureaucracy.
The issue for Iraqis, however, is the centuries-old sectarian divide. All are Iraqis. Most are Muslim. Yet they use the terms “minority” and “majority” to define themselves. Sunni control of the country through Saddam Hussein is gone, and the Shia (majority) want to control things now. The UN leans the other direction, for many reasons which are only now becoming clear.
I abhor the UN. I didn’t always. But it is becoming more and more irrelevant through its own actions. I do not want them to have any influence in the governmental transition in Iraq. People often talk about how the UN can help in the regard, but nobody can show anywhere they’ve been successful in doing this.
I am even more convinced, based on this report from Iraqi Progress, that my earlier assessment for dividing the country is valid. Let the Shia and Sunni sort things out between themselves, and leave the Kurds alone. It is what will happen violently if the UN gets its way.