A new Pentagon report holds out little hope for quick action by Iraqi legislators on two crucial laws that might help break the back of the Sunni insurgency.
One law would guarantee Sunni Muslims a cut of oil revenues, the country’s main source of wealth.
The other would authorize new local elections that could help Sunnis gain more political power. To protest their lack of clout, Sunnis largely sat out the first round of provincial elections. Tribal leaders are now telling Sunnis to vote in the next ones.
But a Pentagon report, “Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq,” states that the Iraq legislature is not likely to take up the election law until this fall. Sunni, Kurdish and majority Shiite lawmakers have not been able to agree on the boundaries for election districts, despite strong pressure from Washington to make a deal.
This is disappointing. The only positive thing I can really say is that delay and negotiation is all part of democracy in action. The government isn't imposing a solution and must discuss this issue and seek compromise.
In the long run, this is good. In the short run, it causes problems. But I'd rather run the short-term risk for the long-term benefit of instilling the habits of rule of law.
