Stunningly enough, I tend to agree with the NY Times editorial staff regarding the delays in the creation of the Iraqi constitution:
Monday’s vote to take another week to try to write a constitution for Iraq may actually be the most positive news to emerge so far from the frustrating and difficult process of drafting this vital document. That is a purely relative distinction. There is no cause for celebration in missing the original Aug. 15 target date. But by exercising its right to extend the deadline in the face of Washington’s undisguised and unhelpful impatience, Iraq’s parliament took the most responsible and constructive course available: to grant quarreling Sunni Arab, Shiite and Kurdish delegates another week to seek compromises that all can live with.
Actually, the fact that these groups are willing to work within a political process to extend the date for completion of the Constitution, particularly since they are defying coalition attempts to stick to the original date, was perceived by me to be a very positive development. Rather than immediately erupting into violence, they chose to continue working within their new political process. That seems to me to be a good thing.
Perhaps I am just looking for positive news, with all the other bad news dominating headlines, but I don’t necessarily view the delay as a bad thing, and, quite possibly, it is a good sign.
Your thoughts?