The Movement for Southern Iraq Autonomy

A movement for autonomy in the primarily Shi’ite southern provinces of Iraq is growing in popularity and momentum. The emerging issue may have lasting effects on the Iraqi National Assembly’s attempts to forge a constitution and pass it without a single provincial veto. Full federalization of the Iraqi government, one of the United States’ initial goals under the Coalition Provisional Authority, is looking more like a possibility. However, there are fears that religious Shi’a, who hold the majority of the National Assembly, may move to block both Kurdish and southern Shi’a moves toward autonomy due to oil-lust, which would, in turn, create a nightmarish scenario. But there’s also the possibility that federalization could indeed succeed, and lead to a more populist and prosperous Iraq for all.

All the details here.