Examine the possible pros and cons of a postwar Iraqi theocracy

Overview: U.S. forces arrested the self-proclaimed mayor of Baghdad on Sunday. Mohammed Mohsen Ali al-Zubaidi was charged with hampering coalition efforts to restore order to the Iraqi capital. Meanwhile, Iraqi officials discussed the country's future at an international meeting in Spain, and U.S. officials faced the task of organizing a country of widely varied and often conflicting interests.

After students read "Profile of an ethnically and culturally diverse nation" present the following:

RESOURCES • CNN.com: Coalition captures Iraqi inspections liaison  • CNN.com: Iraq opposition urges democracy  • CNN Special: The New Iraq - Transition of Power  • U.S. will block Iraqi theocracy  • Perspectives on Post War Iraq  • CIA World Factbook 2002: Iran  • CNNstudentnews.com: Islam Backgrounder  • Holt, Rinehart and Winston: The Persian Gulf and Interior

1. Who is Mohammed Mohsen Ali al-Zubaidi? Of what charge has he been accused? Why is his arrest important for the U.S.-led war in Iraq? What is the "Madrid Declaration"? How many Iraqi official helped to develop the document? What type of postwar Iraqi government does the declaration call for?

2. Point out to students that the Madrid Declaration calls for deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to stand trial "for crimes committed against the Iraqi people and against humanity." What does this mean? What does the inclusion of this directive imply? Why do you think the authors of the declaration included the directive in their document? Discuss.

3. What are the main ethnic and religious groups in Iraq? What are the two main branches of Islam? According to the story, how do Sunnism and Shi'ism differ? In what part of Iraq do the Kurds reside? Why are they considered a "distinct" political group in Iraq?

4. What challenges does the U.S. face in terms of instilling a multiethnic democracy in Iraq? Who is Ahmad Chalabi? With what political party is he affiliated? Why are some Iraqis opposed to Chalabi serving as an interim leader? Why are some concerned about holding democratic elections in Iraq?

5. Have students define the term "theocracy" and discuss how a theocracy differs from a democracy. Next, inform students that U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently stated that the U.S. will "thwart efforts to create a pro-Iranian Islamic theocracy in Iraq." Direct student groups to conduct research to learn about the history of theocracy in Iran and why Shia Muslims in Iraq might prefer an "Iranian-style theocracy" to a multiethnic democracy. After groups share their findings, ask students: How might a postwar Iraqi theocracy differ from a postwar Iraqi democracy? What would be the pros and cons of each? Then, remind students that the White House is caught between its promise that Iraqis could choose their own government and the possibility that many Iraqis might opt for a theocracy. What action do you think the Bush administration should take on this issue? State your rationale.

6. Teachers: For activities on the formation of a postwar Iraqi government, check out the CNN Student News Daily Guides for April 16, 2003 (http://fyi.cnn.com/fyi/student.news.guide/2003/04/16/index.html#segment2) and April 23, 2003 (http://fyi.cnn.com/fyi/student.news.guide/2003/04/23/index.html#segment2).

And for an activity on whether the Kurdish Parliament would serve as a good role model for Iraq's new government, go to the April 24, 2003 CNN Student News Guide (http://fyi.cnn.com/fyi/student.news.guide/2003/04/24/index.html#segment4).