The US media may not be telling us much about it, but on Saturday the people of Iraq will vote on their draft Constitution. It is their greatest opportunity ever to escape a history filled with bloody horrors. It could make or break America's strategic gamble in overthrowing Saddam Hussein. Saturday is crunch time.

Now "Al Qaida in Iraq" has come out with its election platform. It is calling on its fans to wipe out the majority Shiites, drive out the Americans, and kill all the ambassadors from Arab countries. This is Al Qaida—style electioneering. Well, you can't say they are sugarcoating their message.

So why are the majority Shiites supposed to be wiped out?

"The Islamic world must understand that the Shiites are targeting the Sunni clerics and stealing the Sunni mosques. Moreover, most of the members of th=e [Iraqi] National Guard and Iraqi army are Shiites — and let's not forget their famous slogan, which they wrote on the walls of Al—Falluja: 'Today your land, tomorrow your honor,' as was reported by the commander of the slaughterers, Abu Mus'ab Al—Zarqawi."

Calling Zarqawi "commander of the slaughterers" is high praise from these people. Zarqawi has said that not only will the Americans and Shiites steal Sunni land, but also their women. That is the meaning of the slogan "Today your land, tomorrow your honor."

Zarqawi and the Saddamites have been trying to trigger civil war by randoml y blowing up hundreds of Shiite men, women and children, in mosques, in open—air markets, and in the streets. Shiite desire for vengeance has been held back somehow, in good part by their leader, Ayatollah Al—Sistani. Sistani is therefore marked for assassination.

So why does Al Qaida hate Shiite Muslims? It all goes back to theology. The deep theological debate among Islamic fascists is whether Shiite Muslims are idolaters. This election—day message tells the world that yes, Shiites can be killed, women and children and ayatollahs alike. Nice folks.

On Saturday most Iraqis will vote for the Constitution, and an end to bloodshed. The big, big question is whether enough Sunnis will listen to Al Qaida's call for civil war. If they do, they could block the Constitution.

My bet is that the Sunnis are also sick of the killling. If they put their bets on democracy, there is a very good chance that "Al Qaida in Iraq" will soon be no more. They have worn out their welcome.

Anonymous