Iraq146;s new charter

Although it might not immediately end the bloody insurgency, the popular approval of a new charter puts the Iraqi nation on a sound footing ...

Although it might not immediately end the bloody insurgency, the popular approval of a new charter puts the Iraqi nation on a sound footing to become a full-fledged constitutional republic. While the final tally is awaited, initial trends point to a strong 8220;yes8221; vote on the draft Iraqi constitution in Saturday8217;s referendum. Given the circumstances under which the referendum was held and the larger democracy deficit in the Middle East, the political significance of the outcome should not be downplayed. The elections slated for mid-December will end the transitional phase in the Iraqi political evolution after the ouster of Saddam Hussein.

When a regular government takes charge in Baghdad in the new year, a historic moment would have arrived, not just for Iraq but for the entire region. Saturday8217;s high turnout was in itself a shot in the arm for the Iraqi political process. Even more important was the fact that the Sunnis, who had boycotted the elections in January, chose to participate in large numbers this time. Expectedly, a majority of the Sunnis have voted 8220;no8221;. But the fact that some of them voted 8220;yes8221; is tribute to the politics of compromise 8212;central to any democratic process 8212; in the form of amendments to the constitution pushed through just days before the referendum. That the Sunni minority which dominated Iraqi political structure all these decades has begun to move away from rejectionist politics is a good augury.

However, the constitution alone will not put an end to countless Iraqi troubles. Many issues that have been finessed in the Constitution 8212; the relationship between Islam and the state, the question of federalism and the problem of dividing oil revenues 8212; will continue to haunt it. The emergence of democratic structures does not necessarily mean the sources of Iraqi insurgency have been effectively tackled. While US military presence might be necessary for the survival of the Iraqi state, it would be unwise for Washington to ignore the potential resentment that could gather against it. To ensure that the fragile republic survives, both the US and the international community need to come up with a credible plan to provide solid security and economic assistance to Baghdad.