Kathianne
02-13-2008, 09:41 PM
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1202923591.shtml
Major Breakthrough In Iraq
Dave Price
This is the best possible news:
BAGHDAD - Iraq's parliament on Wednesday passed three key pieces of legislation that set a date for provincial elections, allot $48 billion for 2008 spending, and provide limited amnesty to detainees in Iraqi custody.
This appears to at least partially satisfy the last two of the three political benchmarks, elections and revenue sharing, that were laid out for the Iraqis, the lack of which was used by Democrats to claim there was “no progress” in Iraq. It’s difficult to see how that meme persists now; it seems likely detractors will have to go back to citing the cost of the conflict.
The new elections are particularly important:
The last time Iraqis voted for local officials was January 2005, when nationwide elections ushered in representational government for the first time in modern history.
But many Sunni Arabs boycotted the polls, giving Iraq's majority Shiites and minority Kurds the bulk of power. The U.S. hopes the new elections will empower the Sunni minority and blunt support for the insurgency
Given the sea change in Sunni Iraq, the elections should go a long way towards empowering moderates.
UPDATE: A very timely piece from Bill Ardolino that explains in great detail the intricacies of parliamentary democracy in Iraq.
The Ardolino post, as you can see, like the above, there are major links:
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/02/inside_iraqi_politic_2.php
Inside Iraqi politics – Part 3. Examining the legislative branch
By Bill ArdolinoFebruary 13, 2008 8:42 AM
The first two installments of The Long War Journal's series on Iraqi politics examined the structure, challenges, and progress of the executive branch. This installment looks at the legislative branch.
Understanding the constitutional structure and current composition of Iraq’s legislative branch is a prerequisite to analyzing the much-maligned progress of key legislation. As with the executive, the political diversity of Iraq’s legislature presents many significant challenges and a few opportunities to meeting the legislative benchmarks considered important to stability and reconciliation....
Major Breakthrough In Iraq
Dave Price
This is the best possible news:
BAGHDAD - Iraq's parliament on Wednesday passed three key pieces of legislation that set a date for provincial elections, allot $48 billion for 2008 spending, and provide limited amnesty to detainees in Iraqi custody.
This appears to at least partially satisfy the last two of the three political benchmarks, elections and revenue sharing, that were laid out for the Iraqis, the lack of which was used by Democrats to claim there was “no progress” in Iraq. It’s difficult to see how that meme persists now; it seems likely detractors will have to go back to citing the cost of the conflict.
The new elections are particularly important:
The last time Iraqis voted for local officials was January 2005, when nationwide elections ushered in representational government for the first time in modern history.
But many Sunni Arabs boycotted the polls, giving Iraq's majority Shiites and minority Kurds the bulk of power. The U.S. hopes the new elections will empower the Sunni minority and blunt support for the insurgency
Given the sea change in Sunni Iraq, the elections should go a long way towards empowering moderates.
UPDATE: A very timely piece from Bill Ardolino that explains in great detail the intricacies of parliamentary democracy in Iraq.
The Ardolino post, as you can see, like the above, there are major links:
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/02/inside_iraqi_politic_2.php
Inside Iraqi politics – Part 3. Examining the legislative branch
By Bill ArdolinoFebruary 13, 2008 8:42 AM
The first two installments of The Long War Journal's series on Iraqi politics examined the structure, challenges, and progress of the executive branch. This installment looks at the legislative branch.
Understanding the constitutional structure and current composition of Iraq’s legislative branch is a prerequisite to analyzing the much-maligned progress of key legislation. As with the executive, the political diversity of Iraq’s legislature presents many significant challenges and a few opportunities to meeting the legislative benchmarks considered important to stability and reconciliation....