US Senate votes to divide Iraq

[buffycat]

On a side note wasn't it the Taliban and the Palestinians that reinstated the Burka, it's popularity has blossomed since 911 in Islamic Countries as a way to thumb their noses at the west. It's also popular in UAI and now Saudi Arabia, they are becoming more radicalized and Moafied by the day.

Okay Moxie, please enlighten us all about the ties between the Taliban and the Palestinian people...

(I'll make a little bed to wait in and bring along some food and water since this will probably take a while).

In the meantime - you may want to read A Clean Break - it's a policy paper drawn up by some of the neocons (yeah same ones who were behind all the WMD lies in the lead up to the Iraq war), but this one was for that wonderful man of peace : BIBI!!! (So far, it's coming true!!).

(settling in now...sips on coffee)

[Guest trex]

If you're gonna educate those who speak out of their asses you need to be more verbose. I am sure trex does not really know what a burqa is.

I've never seen a picture of an iranian woman in a burqua. As far as I know it doesn't happen. Burquas are a Sunni fetish.

I don't need your "education" but you could use a lesson in civility, I see. If you have something useful to add besides your personal opinion and insults, lets hear.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/20/internat...st/20women.html

Iraqi Constitution May Curb Women's Rights

Hmm, is that women wearing one of those black hoody things?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/24/internat...ast/24iraq.html

"Some secular Iraqi leaders complained Tuesday that the country's nearly finished constitution lays the groundwork for the possible domination of the country by Shiite Islamic clerics, and that it contains specific provisions that could sharply curtail the rights of women."

"The courts would rely on Shariah, which under most interpretations grants women substantially fewer rights than men."

http://www.whrnet.org/docs/interview-yanar-0603.html

Women's Human Rights net

"during his (Saddams) rule the society did enjoy the benefits of secularism and some economic prosperity. Women had access to education and work. 40% of the public work force was female. We were granted jobs after finishing our education which was free and nationalized. Economic independence and high levels of education placed Iraqi women in the most privileged status when compared to all countries of the Middle-East.

"Progressive movements which were present in Iraq (since before Sadam's regime) had influenced the social scene and women's status was respected and social freedoms were enjoyed. These movements organized more than 40,000 women around the country and had forced amendments towards reforming the family law. Women in cities were professionals, judges, ministers and wore modern, stylish dresses as an expression of social status, education or aspiration. Professions like acting, art teaching and banking were crowded with women.

"The change happened overnight after the sudden invasion of Iraq. The US occupation authorities ousted the regime and dismantled all former security and defense institutions. Consequently, the system fell apart with no substitution, which gave rise to looting and women being the abducted and trafficked to surrounding countries, where the borders were open for travelers with no serious inspection.

"WHRnet: Can you explain the process of women´s exclusion and discrimination in the Law. What has changed de facto and legally and what are the consequences for women in the new Constitution?

"After the invasion, the US occupation divided the government and parliament seats according to strongly armed and funded political groups in Iraq. The US occupation preferred to assign to the strong political groups (mainly Shiite Islamists and Nationalist Kurds) most of the seats which left women's rights and activists defenseless, marginalized and unheard. The first result of this configuration of power was clear in the new constitution. Islamic Sharia was considered the base source of legislation. This result automatically aborted decades of feminist struggles in Iraq. It was an enormous set back in women's status and made Iraq into a country ruled mostly by religion. With the current government, the resulting family law will be one that legalizes polygamy, disciplining of women, stoning of adulteresses, and sexual apartheid. The first results were clear in the recent days, when the current Al Jaafari's government passed a resolution of segregating sexes in the universities and colleges."

(continues)

Edited November 2, 2007 by trex

[Amazing Atheist]

Iraq was a made up country anyway. At one time it was divided into three parts thanks to the brits.

Edited November 4, 2007 by Amazing Atheist

[Sulaco]

Iraq was a made up country anyway. At one time it was divided into three parts thanks to the brits.

Meaningless. Poland was at times divided into multiple polities. Mazovia and Silesia were at times independent. The Czech Republix is composed of parts and pieces of multiple countries. Romania used to be Transylvania and Wallachia. France comprises something like seven powerful ex-kingdoms. Spain was composed of two main kingdoms. The US includes the Confederate States, the ex Republics of Texas and California.

So on so forth ad infinitum.

What's not a "made up country."

[M.Dancer]

What's not a "made up country."

Well, there's Freedonia.....but that's more fictional than made up....

[jbg]

What's not a "made up country."

Most of the examples you cited have since fused into one country. That appears not to have happened in Iraq since 1921, when it was created out of the hodgepodge ending of the Ottoman Empire.

[Sulaco]

Most of the examples you cited have since fused into one country. That appears not to have happened in Iraq since 1921, when it was created out of the hodgepodge ending of the Ottoman Empire.

Ok - what does "fused" mean? Is it impossible for such fusion to take place today?

Edited November 6, 2007 by Sulaco

[jbg]

Ok - what does "fused" mean? Is it impossible for such fusion to take place today?

Artificially joined. A surgical term as in "fusing" a shattered bone.