CIAO DATE: 03/04

The Standoff with Iraqi Shiites over Direct Elections

Reuel Marc Gerecht

On The Issues

February 2004

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

Introduction

The Bush administration needs to be aware of Islamic history as it works with the Iraqis to forge a democracy in their country. The Shiite Muslims, who constitute a majority of the population, are clamoring for direct elections after centuries of injustice suffered at the hands of others. If the administration rejects that approach to democratization, it runs a serious risk of losing Iraq to violence.

Full Text (PDF, 4 pages, 143.2 KB)