One of four Sunni Arabs picked this weekend to join Iraq's new Shiite-controlled cabinet abruptly rejected the job on Sunday, saying he first learned of his selection from a television news report on Saturday night. He added that he felt his selection would further a quota system for Sunnis that would only make sectarian problems worse.in a country where members of the government are regularly targets for assassination, it seems rather stupid to assume that anyone they pick to be a minister will want the post without checking with them first. and it says a lot that the talabani government found the time to call the news media, but not the nominee.
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One day earlier, Dr. Jaafari had declared at an afternoon news conference that all six nominees had already been approved by President Jalal Talabani and his two vice presidents. But Mr. Shibli, in an interview, said he did not formally learn that he had been picked until just before the confirmation vote on Sunday, leading him to believe that his selection was more symbolism than substance.
"I heard about it watching TV," he said. "No one talked to me or asked me about it before. This morning they called me and tried to congratulate me on my 'new job,' but I said no. I refused this because this is sectarianism, and I don't believe in sectarianism. I believe in democracy."
this should also be a lesson to us all that it is very important to follow the news and keep informed about what is going on in iraq. in theory any of us could be appointed to a position in the new iraqi government at any time. there is no guarantee that anyone will ever bother to tell us. so make sure to pay attention!
