Drafting Iraqi Constitution.

[Arch Enemy]

As we all know, the Iraqis should be presenting their constitution Monday, August 22nd 2005. Yes, having a constitution does give a foundation for a government. However, why are we pressing this issue? America is not going to leave Iraq anytime soon, just because they have a constitution doesn't mean they insurgents are going to stop the killing. The fact that there will be a constitution isn't a bad thing, the bad thing is somehow we've got it in our minds that there should be a dead-line for these people to finish their constituion. In other-words we've put a time limit on which these people have to plan their future.. Good Going Bush Administration!

What'll happen if they don't complete today, instead they're going to complete it in a year? Are we going to refuse to accept this constitution we've GOT TO review? Middle-School all over again.

 

[cnredd]

As we all know, the Iraqis should be presenting their constitution Monday, August 22nd 2005. Yes, having a constitution does give a foundation for a government. However, why are we pressing this issue? America is not going to leave Iraq anytime soon, just because they have a constitution doesn't mean they insurgents are going to stop the killing. The fact that there will be a constitution isn't a bad thing, the bad thing is somehow we've got it in our minds that there should be a dead-line for these people to finish their constituion. In other-words we've put a time limit on which these people have to plan their future.. Good Going Bush Administration!

What'll happen if they don't complete today, instead they're going to complete it in a year? Are we going to refuse to accept this constitution we've GOT TO review? Middle-School all over again.

I've been wondering that myself...I'd rather have it "late" and "right" than "on time" and "wrong"...

Maybe August 22 represents something important in Iraqi history, like the day Saddam came into power, and the US threw up the date to make it mean something else....Just a guess....

 

[Arch Enemy]

I've always wanted to draft my document of freedom in mere months.

I mean, what if they forget a bill of rights or something important as such. Think of all the Kitties which might not get their own important spot in Iraqi society.

 

[GarzaUK]

By the sounds of it the Shittes and the Kurds have agreed a constitution, they vote for it in three days. However it looks like the Sunnis aren't happy and they have the political power to put the whole thing down the tubes.
Iraq's defining moment might be in October not today.

 

[Billo_Really]

Why would anyone be expected to write a Constitution in the middle of a war? What if France was expected to write a Constitution while they were occupied by the Germans? What kind of document do you think they would produce under those conditions? Yet we expect Iraq to do this.

Here's a few words from an average Iraqi commenting about the occupation of his country and this ongoing issue that he will have to live with every day.

Iraqis need end to war before the constitution
By Fatih Abdulsalam Azzaman, August 23, 2005

There is no doubt the U.S. war on Iraq is still raging and that the boots of foreign troops are running the country rather than a national government. Is it right then to write a constitution under such circumstances?

Imagine the Germans or the Japanese writing a new constitution while battles were still raging across their countries and their major cities were under the mercy violence and insurgent attacks. But that is exactly what is happening in Iraq. President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, who invaded the country, realize the war they started is still on but act as if was not.

The ongoing war is the real problem and not failure to iron out differences and agree the text of a new constitution. These are the circumstances under which Bush and Tony Blair would like Iraqis to chart a new future. It is strange to imagine that there are policy makers in the world who believe any political process can succeed amid real war conditions.

The planners behind U.S. Iraq policy have made so many blunders for which both U.S. troops and Iraqis have paid in blood. They were wrong in almost all their calculations regarding the invasion and its aftermath. They were badly wrong when they thought transferring a semblance of sovereignty to Iraqis would lead to quiet. They were proved wrong when they thought setting up a new Iraqi government would help restore normalcy. And they blundered when thought holding elections would rally all Iraqis behind the government. The new constitution will help very little if it does not meet the aspirations of the majority.

The U.S. and the U.K. know that Iraqis will only be happy when there is an end to the war and violence, both a direct cause of their invasion. They have tried many options but to no avail. The point is how to stop this war and bring peace and stability to the country. We are afraid a constitution written under such circumstances will not do it.

In that case we will be left with the only alternative: a timetable for a quick departure of U.S. and British occupation troops.

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=editorial\2005-08-23\10495.htm