Iraq: Will Revenue Replace Terror?
Iraq’s oil revenue sharing proposal is the clearest signal since the election that Iraqis : (1) they see a future after Saddam and Zarqawi — a future without either form of fascism; (2) they intend to remain one state instead splitting into three (or more); (3) the federal sy6stem –whatever its final form– will recognize minority rights when it comes to cash.
The Kurds have dropped their demand that they receive 60 percent of the oil revenues from fields in Kurdish areas. Many of us identified that as a negotiating position. Dexter Filkins report in today’s NY Times has the details.
Key points in Filkins’ article:
Under the agreement, oil revenue would be shared by the central government and Iraq’s 18 provinces, and split roughly according to their populations. It was unclear which entity would control the money, though one Iraqi leader said it would be the central government.
“The agreement is that the distribution would be under the control of the federal government,” said the leader, Saleh Mutlak, a member of the committee charged with writing the constitution.
If it holds, the deal will constitute a major advance in the effort to complete a constitution. The control of oil revenue, which provides the bulk of Iraq’s income, could significantly strengthen the hand of the central government over the regions, like Kurdistan and southern Iraq, that are pushing for greater self-rule.
Most of Iraq’s oil is concentrated in fields well to the south and north, raising fears, especially among the Sunni Arab population, that the revenues will fall under the control of the Shiite Arabs and the Kurds. Until this week, Kurdish leaders were demanding that they keep at least 60 percent of the money earned from oil in their area, in the north. A Kurdish official said Friday that they had dropped that demand.
“This is a formula that everyone can agree on,” said Mahmood Othman, a Kurdish member of the constitutional committee.
These are hopeful signs. Plus, if they will recognize minority rights on cash… they’ll respect those rights in other areas.
Comment by HaroldHutchison — 8/13/2005 @ 10:47 am
[…] ? Filed under: General Pol-Mil — chap @ 9:00 pm I hope I hope I hope this works. Oil revenue sharing plan in the leaked Iraqi draft constitution. […]
Pingback by Chapomatic » Revenue Sharing Alaska Style? — 8/13/2005 @ 9:01 pm
I’ve lost track of the story about the Pentagon intercepting a Zarquawi message claimin they are winning as a result of left wing media in the U.S. Have you seen anymore on that and if so, would you drop me a line at Mike’s America?
Comment by Mike on Hilton Head — 8/14/2005 @ 2:42 pm
I am not quite sure why people are so concerned with Suuni opinion. The Sunni in Iraq have abrogated any and all good will by their Ba’athist tyranny. They are what, 20 percent of the population? They came, they saw, they conquered, and they Tyrannized the populace. Should not there be some form of punishment?
Comment by karensky — 8/14/2005 @ 11:54 pm
Punishing all Sunnis for a few bad apples is not good for Iraq in the long run… If they are not on board, then there is a very real risk that Zarqawi has 20% of the population willing to support him.
Comment by HaroldHutchison — 8/16/2005 @ 11:36 am