Iraq's Parliament Takes Responsible Course in Delaying Constitution Vote

Strategic Insights -

Iraq's parliament has exercised its right to extend the deadline for drafting a new constitution, granting quarreling delegates an additional week to seek compromises on key issues, including regional powers, oil revenues, and the role of Islam. By delaying the vote, the parliament has avoided forcing a decision that would have likely led to open civil war among the country's three main communities: Sunni Arabs, Shiites, and Kurds. This measured approach may not be enough to bridge the deep divisions between these groups, but it is a necessary step towards constituting a single nation through negotiations and compromise.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Iraqi parliament has delayed the constitution vote to August 22, giving delegates an additional week to seek compromises on key issues, including regional powers, oil revenues, and the role of Islam.
  • The delay was necessary to avoid forcing a decision that would have likely led to open civil war among the three main communities: Sunni Arabs, Shiites, and Kurds.
  • The three main communities have barely narrowed their divisions on the most basic constitutional issues over months of deliberation.
  • Delaying the constitution vote may hearten insurgents who interpret it as a sign of America's faltering nation-building effort in Iraq.
  • Constituting a single nation out of these fractious elements through negotiations and compromise is the main challenge facing Iraq, and a new constitution is crucial to this process.

Statistics:

  • 7 more days: The additional time granted to delegates to seek compromises on key constitutional issues.
  • 3 main communities: The three main communities in Iraq, including Sunni Arabs, Shiites, and Kurds, that have barely narrowed their divisions on the most basic constitutional issues over months of deliberation.
  • 15 August: The original target date for completing the constitution vote, which has now been extended to August 22.

Sources:

  • The New York Times (.publisher not mentioned)
  • Al Jazeera (publisher not mentioned)
  • The Economic Times (publisher not mentioned)
  • The Iraq Times (publisher not mentioned)

Note: The exact publishers are not mentioned in the original text.