The NY Times' most famous observer of the Middle East has just endorsed a moderate Islamist Republic on virtually the same grounds that I have done so previously. Going back to the lessons of Federalist #10, it would be even better if the Kurds and Sunni Arabs had their own Sistani, or that each religious/ethnic faction had several of them.
Only one quibble, depending on a person is not a wise thing in constitution writing. If we depended on always having a George Washington, I doubt the US would have ended up with the Constitution that has served us so well the past two centuries. Sistani will die, as we all do and the next generation should not have to depend on an unbroken line of virtuous men to safeguard their freedom.
Posted by TMLutas at December 4, 2003 01:55 PM