Shiite Emerges as Leading Candidate for Prime Minister
An Iraqi Shiite nuclear scientist who broke with Saddam Hussein over the country’s nuclear weapons program has emerged as a leading candidate to become the first prime minister of Iraq when sovereignty is restored at the end of June, American and Iraqi officials said today
Critical question remains how much “sovereignty” will actually be transferred to the Iraqi government. Apparently Dr Shahristani has the blessings of Al-Sistani.
Here is an article written by Dr Shahristani in February 2004.
**Democracy Delayed Is Democracy Denied **](http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110004684)
[thumb=H]shahrastani12080_9258240.JPG[/thumb]
The current impasse is far more than a showdown between Iraq’s most influential leader and the CPA. It raises the disturbing question of whether Washington truly understands the Iraqi reality. National identity and self-determination are strong forces in Iraq. Instead of dismissing them, the U.S. ought to work with the U.N. to start preparation for a national election under U.N. auspices.
CPA head L. Paul Bremer might be right that there is not enough time now to organize elections by June 2004; but surely preparations could have been made over the last nine months–if, indeed, an election was ever a U.S. priority. He also points out that security conditions are not conducive to elections; yet clearly, impeding the legitimate demand for direct and fair elections would further aggravate ethnic and sectarian tensions.
The U.S. administration should not force its agenda onto the Iraqi people, based on a U.S. election timetable. The aim should be the creation of a new Iraqi government that has legitimacy in the eyes of its own citizens, so that in the years ahead, a stable, democratic and peaceful Iraq will emerge as a responsible member of the world community. If America is genuinely committed to democracy in the Middle East, then it should avoid handpicking rulers for Iraq. Only a very short-sighted policy would orchestrate a process that leaves behind a government that may be friendly, but will not endure. Without a constitutional process, Iraqis cannot be assured that their basic human and political rights are respected. Failing to engage the people in the political process will further destabilize the country and provide fertile grounds for the remnants of Saddam Hussain’s security apparatus to recruit zealots to carry out terrorist acts.