Bush urges Sunnis to embrace draft Iraq constitution News
Bush urges Sunnis to embrace draft Iraq constitution

[JURIST] President Bush urged Sunni Arabs on Tuesday to embrace the proposed Iraqi constitution [JURIST news archive] in an effort to bring peace to a country on the verge of civil war. When asked about a Sunni negotiator's warning that the constitution may lead to a Sunni revolt, Bush replied [White House press briefing] that "There is more than one Sunni involved in the process. Reaching an accord on a constitution, after years of dictatorship, is not easy." Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari said earlier Tuesday that almost all of the draft's problems have been resolved, but Sunni leaders have not corroborated his statement and have reportedly said that the draft will fail when the nation votes on it. Iraq's constitutional drafting committee postponed a vote [JURIST report] on the proposed constitution Monday in an attempt to resolve some of the issues plaguing the Sunni minority. AFP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.