After a long wait for a fresh idea to the deteriorating state of Iraq, the so called expert analysis of the Iraq Study Group failed to offer any fair and just solutions. The report failed to recognize that one goal of the war to bring institutional democracy to Iraq and the Middle East, while it recommend to review the Iraqi constitution which goes up against the basic principle of democracy and the vision of President Bush for new democracy in the region. Members of the ISG did not visit Kurdistan Region which is considered a huge shortcoming by the Kurds. The report plays to the wishes of the Turkish and Arab governments and ignore the rights of their only ally in Iraq, Kurdish people. The group did not visit Kurdistan nor consult with the Kurdish leadership. The report ignores the wishes of 80% of Iraqis who participated in democratic elections. It recommends reviewing of the constitution to appease minority Iraqi Sunni population and neighboring countries. The Kurdish leadership wholly dismisses the report because it does not recognize the Iraqi constitution which is the major factor to keep Iraq together. Some major recommendations which contradict the rights of the Iraqi people and especially the Kurdish people are:
RECOMMENDATION 26: Constitution review. Review of the constitution is essential to national reconciliation and should be pursued on an urgent basis. The United Nations has expertise in this field, and should play a role in this process. This is against the core principle of democracy. The people of Iraq overwhelmingly voted for this constitution. Changing the constitution without going through the right process set up in the constitution is very dangerous and sets back the process of building a democratic society and culture in Iraq and consequently for the region.
RECOMMENDATION 28: Oil revenue sharing. Oil revenues should accrue to the central government and be shared on the basis of population. No formula that gives control over revenues from future fields to the regions or gives control of oil fields to the regions is compatible with national reconciliation. This will take away the right of the regional government to exercise their rights according to the Iraqi constitution. If the Kurdish leadership give up this right in drafting the new Iraqi national oil law where the Shiite and Sunni in agreement against the Kurds to give the power on the oil revenue to the central government then it will be another economic disaster for the Kurdish people to secure their future in rebuilding the Kurdistan region.
RECOMMENDATION 30: Kirkuk. Given the very dangerous situation in Kirkuk, international arbitration is necessary to avert communal violence. Kirkuk