US views on the Iraqi constitution draft process
Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/24/2005

The American ambassador in Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, stressed he will be making intensive talks with sides concerned to convince the Sunnis to be flexible.

News reports also said that Washington is pressuring the Kurds to give up the demands for the self rule, and annexing the oil rich Karkouk city to the Kurdish areas to the north of Iraq.

With the US welcome of the submission of the draft constitution to the parliament, US President George W. Bush stressed opposition to the withdrawal of the American from Iraq, considering that this will make the US less secure in confrontation of what he called the terrorist threats.

Completing a constitution will be another important Iraqi step toward a new way of life "ruled by ballot boxes rather than by death squads," US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld saiad yesterday adding that the document's completion "has been delayed a bit, but democracy has never been described as speedy, efficient or perfect."Ê He said the draft being worked on "will require a respect for democratic principles and the rights of women and minorities."

Iraqi Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites will need to have "reasonable confidence" that the new constitution will protect each of them.Ê "That is a big deal.Ê That is tough stuff.Ê That is hard work.Ê That is a leap of faith," Rumsfeld said.Ê "Therefore the constitution, to be successful, has to take into account the legitimate interests and fashion a balance in the federalism aspect of it and in the other key things that they're worried about."

The US Department Of State spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday "We are watching Iraqis from a variety of different regions and different ethnic groups, as well as religious backgrounds, pull together and come together to write a constitution that will serve as a foundation for a new, free, democratic and, we all hope, more prosperous Iraq.Ê And what we are also seeing is a political process that is unfolding under the glare of klieg lights and 24-hour news cycles and the internet.Ê I'd hate to think about where we might be if drafters of our constitution had to work under similar conditions. I think that Iraq's leaders and the people drafting this constitution should be applauded for the decisions that they have taken, the way that they have conducted themselves and how they have gotten the process to this point.Ê Not to say that there haven't been tough discussions among all the different groups.

"I think that what we have seen at every turn and you heard it, I think, from the speaker of the Iraqi Transitional Assembly yesterday, about the importance of bringing all groups in, including the Sunnis, into this process.Ê The constitution drafters came up with the draft constitution.Ê The Transitional Assembly said that they need three more days and we think that certainly that's a statesman-like decision.

"And we are also seeing, certainly, as text becomes available that this is a constitution of which the Iraqis, certainly at this point, although it's not done yet, can be proud and that those who are watching it unfold can be proud.Ê It has protections in there for freedom of speech, freedom of religion and women's rights.

"And also they're dealing with issues related to the role of religion in Iraq and those are decisions for the Iraqis to make.Ê But I think -- just not to comment too much on where, you know, the substance of the constitution right now is -- it's not completed yet -- the process that they have gone through, to this point, is really one that has been extraordinarily inclusive and that has dealt with very tough issues -- and you have to remember, this all takes place in the context of, you know, 20 years of absolute brutality by the regime of Saddam Hussein, where the constitution wasn't worth the paper it was written on -- and working through very difficult issues, through dialogue and political bargaining, not through -- resort to force of arms or violence -- or calls to violence.Ê So I think it really is an extraordinary process that we're all witnessing here."

Asked about a Wshington Post report that the "Shiite and Kurdish militias often operating as part of Iraqi Government security forces, have carried out a wave of abductions, assassinations and other acts of intimidation, consolidating their control over territory across northern and southern Iraq and deepening the country's divide along ethnic and sectarian lines."Ê McCormack said "I think that our forces are there to work with Iraqi security forces to provide a secure, stable environment for all Iraqis.Ê And I think that it is very clear that in any democracy there has to be one authority that governs security and that is -- and how that comes about is certainly up to that government. But we're working very closely with the Iraqis and as their forces become more capable, I think that more and more, you're going to see them taking the lead on issues related to security and fighting any armed groups that may be on their territory."

In a speech he delivered before thousands of war veterans in Salt Lake city, Presdient Bush said that "the war in Iraq is a war against terrorism," noting the need of completing the mission where some 1864 American soldiers have died. Bush defended the effort on drafting the constitution considering that it will constitute a founding element in the history of Iraq and the Middle East.

Previous Stories:
  Iraqis constitution shows democratic process   (8/23/2005)
  Tareq Aziz meets family: I am not concerned about trial   (8/22/2005)
  Arab Sunnis demand pressure for a united Iraq   (8/22/2005)
  International Herald Tribune: Iraq's effect on US internal elections politics   (8/20/2005)
  Rumsfeld: Iraqi constitutional process will succeed   (8/18/2005)
  Khalilzad: federalism, resources sharing not resolved yet in Iraqi constitution   (8/17/2005)

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