What's the big deal with a COnstitution? Just Xerox ours
"Thanks. I needed that" I can be a little slow, especially if I'm not concentrating on something. It isn't the constitution that's important; it's the constitutional process that's the "big deal". That's where the real politics are - all the give and take, to arrive at a pragmatic solution. That's what takes time. I'm not sure how much that can be hurried. That’s part of the problem with the EU. The 10 "new guys" want a say in what it is they've committed their future to. I think who you give what amount of say to, in writing the constitution, can have profound long-term consequences. In the EU, "old Europe" has "tried to pull a fast one" New (more peripheral) Europe wants a say in how the power is “divvied up”.
In Iraq, the majority Shia (or at least some important Shia groups) want the constitution drafting group to be selected by popular vote. "Others" (Kurds, Sunni, Turkomen Assyrian, etc) have "other" ideas. An interesting question for Bremer to ponder (and a kinda test to see if he is listening) is whether too much stress has already been placed on the tribes. I wouldn't bring this up, but these guys have played Keystone Kops, too much. If you read what at least some Iraqis seem to be saying, by stressing the tribes as important centers of power, the US Admin is "giving" power to the traditionalist, not the secularist. But it's the secularist that must have significant "clout", for there to be any hope, of a government that many in the US would find "acceptable". What I'm saying here, “Is the CPA shooting itself in the foot?” I don't know. The possibility exists, and their record is less than sterling.
Now mind you, for that constitutional process to work, the traditionalists must not only be represented, but represented effectively. Getting that careful balance of effective representation, and not dominant representation for the traditional perspective, may be as (or more) important, as major ethnic representation.
But that's O.K. Hey, we got six months to select the "right" group to expeditiously speed through the constitutional process, and produce the final pragmatic document, that will bind this "country" together. By next spring, end of process - and the final document produced. That's the "deal" that Powell is offering. Vote for the US proposal, and we'll give you some "pie in the sky".
Wonder why Annan et al are saying "Whoa, how 'bout this alternative."
JMO
lurqer |
