Iraqi Constitution: Time to Fish or Cut Bait

Iraq constitution talks go on, head for referendum
By Mariam Karouny Thu
Aug 25, 5:42 PM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi negotiators failed to agree a final draft of a constitution on Thursday after the government had insisted that they would and the parliament speaker said discussions could go on for some time yet.

However, if compromises could not be found to overcome the opposition of minority Sunni Arab and other groups, the text so far proposed by the Shi'ite- and Kurdish-led government would simply be put to the people at a mid-October referendum.

"Negotiations are still going on. Everybody was there," speaker Hajim al-Hassani told Reuters. "This is a good sign and we hope we will reach a result tomorrow night."

Asked at a news conference what would happen if there were no consensus after further negotiations, he said: "If we cannot reach an agreement, God forbid, the constitution will be put to the Iraqi people on October 15."

He made clear, however, that after an often confusing series of midnight deadlines over the past 10 days, he was not setting a particular time limit on those discussions. Nor was any parliamentary vote required to adopt the text put to the nation.

Some representatives of the once dominant Sunni Arab minority said they might challenge the legality of the process, urging a new election for an interim legislature to begin again the process of drafting a constitution from scratch.

But government and parliamentary officials indicated that they believed the requirements had been met of a U.S.-sponsored interim constitution, under which parliament "shall write the draft of the permanent constitution" by mid-August.

It may indeed be time to go ahead an hold another election, allowing the Sunis to vote this time. Yes, it is their fault that they didn't vote the first time but the time for blame is past. Better to move on and accomplish a good constitution with proper representation than try to make a silk purse out of this sow's ear.

Full Story: Iraqi Constitution

What do you think?

To leave your opinion click on the word "COMMENT(S)" below