Iraq: If the Constitution is accepted tonight, it will be based 100% on Islamic Law

We caved:

American diplomats backed religious conservatives who threatened to torpedo talks over the shape of the new Iraq unless Islam was a primary source of law. Secular and liberal groups were dismayed at the move, branding it a betrayal of Washington's promise to advocate equal rights in a free and tolerant society.

The Kurds and the Sunnis are not happy:

Conservative Shias, dominant in the Iraqi government, had clashed with Kurds and other minorities who wanted Islam to be "a" rather than "the" main source of law.

According to Kurdish and Sunni negotiators, the US ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, proposed that Islam be named "a primary source" and supported a wording which would give clerics authority in civil matters such as divorce, marriage and inheritance.

If approved, critics say that the proposals would erode women's rights and other freedoms enshrined under existing laws. "We understand the Americans have sided with the Shias. It's shocking. It doesn't fit with American values," an unnamed Kurdish negotiator told Reuters. "They have spent so much blood and money here, only to back the creation of an Islamist state."

Mind boggling, isn't it?

We make promises we can't keep. We stick our fingers in so many pies that we can't control any of them. We ignore all of the experts and our long-time allies. Then, when we are finally faced with reality and grudgingly give in to the inevitable, we have already set it up nicely so that it becomes OUR fault!

So, with one stroke the Kurds have a reason to be pissed off, the Sunnis have one more thing for the insurgent recruiting manual (like they needed one) and Iran has a reason to celebrate...again.

When will we learn?