Plan V for Victory and Peace in Iraq by Paul Flum, Founder

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OPEN BORDERS

We understand that these forces of theocratic division populations blend into each other across the whole of Iraq, and always have, especially in the three largest cities. When the borders are determined, it is crucial that all Iraqis have free access in and out of the four states, and that everyone has a choice as to which state they wish to live in. Open and transparent borders are essential for mutual trust!

GOVERNING THE FEDERAL STATES

These are some of the basic infrastructure needs that the Federal Republic of Iraq would have to deal with:

TRANSPORTATION:
Airports, roads, bridges, and highways, rail lines and waterways

ENERGY:
Electrical grids, cooking and heating-oil supplies, gasoline, and jet fuel

WATER:
Fresh water supplies, sewage disposal, safe and clean waterways

COMMUNICATIONS:
Land line and cellular phone networks, internet networks

PUBLIC HEALTH & EDUCATION:
Clinics and hospitals and schools

DEFENSE AND SECURITY SERVICES:
National army, navy, and air force, and police forces, both national and local

Iraq currently has 18 provinces with their own local governments. These existing provinces could serve as the structural backbone of the semiautonomous nonsectarian states, much like our states constitute the framework for our country, which is also a republic. The Provincial governments would serve as a rich source for experienced tribal and governmental leaders – familiar faces and institutions during unsettling and unpredictable times.

The Southern Marsh State would most likely have a Shia character to it, and share some ties with Iran. The three main Shiite clans are currently fighting for control and dominance of the Southern State and its vast oil reserves. We must try to defuse this competition – it infects the Maliki Government.

The British army has recently consolidated its presence in the South and has generally relin-quished control of the countryside and Basra to the Shiite militias – an ominous sign of the break-up of the country that we must help them avoid.

The best way to dilute the current Shia domin-ance of the central government is to move quickly to a Federal system!

The key to Federalism is security through equality, as guaranteed by the Constitution and a stable national government. A greater degree of autonomy for the four distinct States would insure the sense of security that only comes when ethnic communities feel they are the masters of their own fate, yet still part of something larger.

In a Federal Republic, some of the essential services that bind a nation together are admin-istered, maintained and/or insured by the Central Government while others are shared with the States.

The Central Government, with its Capitol in Baghdad, would be responsible for all matters pertaining to Foreign Policy.

The reversal of the disastrous De-Baathification Program must be undertaken, to insure a generous supply of capable and experienced officials, teachers, technocrats, and others to carry out the essential functions of the national and regional governments.

As complicated as this may seem, it has happened successfully in very recent history.
In the mid-1990s, the former Yugoslavia, torn by civil war and genocide, was pulled back
from complete chaos with the formation of the FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA. In that case, two autonomous regions were formed, one including Muslim and Croats, and the other Serbs. Though not perfect, this Federation has remained peaceful for over ten years.

This can be successfully done in Iraq as well!

These are some of the basic infrastructure needs that the Federal Republic of Iraq would have to deal with:

TRANSPORTATION:
Airports, roads, bridges and highways, rail lines and waterways
ENERGY:
Electrical grids, cooking and heating oil supplies, gasoline and jet fuel
WATER:
Fresh water supplies, sewage disposal, safe and clean waterways
COMMUNICATIONS:
Land line & cellular phone networks, Internet networks
PUBLIC HEALTH & EDUCATION:
Clinics and hospitals and schools
DEFENSE AND SECURITY SERVICES:
National army, navy and air force, and police forces, both national and local