It come as early as today.


WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on a Bosnia-style plan to subdivide Iraq on ethnic lines, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife.

Though the measure is non-binding, and would not force a change in President George W. Bush's war strategy even if it passes, the vote will provide a key test of an idea drawing rising interest in Washington.

Advocates say the plan, championed by Democratic senator and presidential hopeful Joseph Biden, offers a route to a political solution in Iraq that could allow US troops to eventually go home without leaving chaos behind.


LINK

The US Senate is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on a Bosnia-style plan to subdivide Iraq on ethnic lines, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife.

It not a decision for us to make. IMO. That is something Iraq should be deciding.

I agree, but since we make all their other decisions for them, I would say it is jusy policy.

Looks likde they voted on Biden's bill.


Showing rare bipartisan consensus over war policy, the Senate overwhelmingly endorsed a political settlement for Iraq that would divide the country into three semi-autonomous regions.

The plan, conceived by Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), was approved 75-23 as a non-binding resolution, with 26 Republican votes. It would not force President Bush to take any action, but it represents a significant milestone in the Iraq debate, carving out common ground in a debate that has grown increasingly polarized and focused on military strategy.

The Biden plan envisions a federal government system for Iraq, consisting of separate regions for Iraq's Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish populations. The structure is spelled out in Iraq's constitution, but Biden would initiate local and regional diplomatic efforts to hasten its evolution.


LINK

In case you want to know how your Senators voted on the Iraq thing.


LINK

They don't even have a functional government and now they endorse a plan like this. What a waste of time.

A waste of time? I have mixed emotions about that. The partitioning if it is gonna be done should have been so about 4 yrs ago. I also see it as a easy answer to a complex situation. Like I said it is a mixed bag for me.

I have been looking for a replky to the vote.


CAIRO (Reuters) - The Arab League and an Iraqi vice president criticized on Thursday a U.S. Senate resolution advocating the division of Iraq into federal regions.

Ali al-Jaroush, the head of the Arab relations department at the Cairo-based league, said the idea was "hostile to Arab interests" and the best response would be to help the Iraqi people drive occupying forces out of the country.

The non-binding Senate amendment, sponsored by Delaware Democrat Joe Biden and passed on Wednesday, says the United States should actively support a political settlement among Iraqis based on a federal system of government.


LINK

This is from the Saudis on the plan.


Riyadh, Sept 27, (VOI)- Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal warned against the partition of Iraq and the regional interference, mainly Iran, in its internal affairs, urging the Shiite clerics in Iraq to work toward achieving "national accord" in the country.

Speaking to reporters and media men on the sidelines of the 62nd session of the United National General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday night and quoted by Saudi news agency "any attempt to divide Iraqi represents a serious threat as it will ignite conflicts in the region."
"Any foreign interference in Iraq does not help in establishing peace in the country, but on the contrary it increases dangerous," the prince said.


LINK


This story is from an Iraqi paper.

I think it will make it even worse in Iraq.

I will have to agree with you, but my opinion changes day to day, for I see so many options for violence in the plan. And the next I can see where it could help a bit. It is all so confusing.

Iraqis are not too happy with the Congress and their action.


The Iraqi government on Friday firmly rejected a Bosnia-style plan approved by the US Senate to divide Iraq on ethnic and religious lines, saying Iraqis will themselves decide their future.

"The government and its Premier [Nuri al-Maliki] reject this vote," said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh.

"It is the Iraqis who decide these sorts of issues, no one else," Dabbagh said on state-run Al-Iraqiyya television. "The Iraqi Parliament too should express its total rejection of this plan."

The plan, touted by backers as the sole hope of forging a federal state out of sectarian strife, was approved by the US Senate Wednesday in a 75-23 vote.


LINK

What do they hope to accomplish by dividing Iraq? I don't see it stopping sectarian violence.

Like I have said, I have mixed feelings about it. it could possibly cease some of the violence for awhile, but it would lead to a bigger proxy war between Iran and the Sunni nations.

Most of the areas are mixed religions so it might entail a lot of relocations just in an attempt to make it work.