Hard Work Remains In Iraq

In a welcome sign of progress, all 25 members of Iraq's Governing Council signed an interim constitution today in Baghdad, ending a political standoff prompted by the demands of Shiite Muslims for greater control over any future government. But the ethnic tensions and violence surrounding the signing highlights the inadequacy of the Bush administration's efforts to promote democracy primarily through unilateral force. Nearly one year after the U.S. military invasion, the administration has yet to present a real plan for building and sustaining democracy in Iraq.

• The Bush administration still lacks an effective plan for the transfer of power on June 30. With the transfer of authority to Iraqis less than four months away, the Bush administration has not produced an effective governing arrangement that meets the demands of Iraq's competing ethnic groups. As the conflict surrounding the interim constitution shows, Iraq still faces serious ethnic divisions that will require long term diplomatic and political intervention.
• The administration is more focused on the U.S. elections than on what is needed to ensure democracy in Iraq. In refusing to yield to political realities on the ground in Iraq by delaying the transfer of power until an effective political structure can be assured, the Bush administration is clearly more interested in meeting its own electoral needs than those of the Iraqi people. The administration should take whatever time is necessary to get it right in Iraq and not just get it done and get out.
• The administration should move immediately to ensure a long term international presence in Iraq. The building of democracy in Iraq will require years of internal and external support – levels of involvement far beyond the capacity of the United States alone. The administration must quickly swallow its pride and re-enlist international support for the long term rebuilding and stabilization of Iraq.

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