Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Political obstacles hinder Iraq's development
Politics
(AP) Iraq's fragmented leadership is struggling to meet the major benchmarks that it has pledged to the United States to achieve soon, with political wrangling and a chaotic legislature standing in the way. The issue took on new urgency last week when House Democrats drafted legislation that would require President Bush to certify by July 1 and again by Oct. 1 whether the Iraqi government is making progress on security, an oil plan and constitutional amendments.
Even if the Democratic proposals never make it through Congress, pressure is mounting for the Iraqis to meet a timetable or risk losing U.S. troops and support. But the Iraqis face a host of obstacles that go to the heart of the crisis. Recent talk of changes in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government may just increase the paralysis as groups maneuver for power.
Iraq missed the Dec. 31 target dates to enact laws establishing provincial elections, regulating distribution of the country's oil wealth and reversing measures that have excluded many Sunnis from jobs and government positions because they belonged to Saddam Hussein's Baath party. The U.S. is also pushing for constitutional amendments to remove articles that the Sunnis believe discriminate in favor of the Shiites and Kurds. U.S. officials also want Iraqis to pass a bill to set new elections for provincial governments to encourage greater public participation at the grass-roots level.
The only success has been a new oil law, which al-Maliki's Cabinet endorsed Feb. 26 and sent to parliament for approval. Leaders of all main political blocs have pledged to support the bill, which lays down rules for negotiating contracts and distributing the revenues among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. But parliament has not taken up the measure yet, and the deputy speaker said the draft may have to be sent back to the Cabinet because al-Maliki's staff skipped some legal steps in endorsing it.
Likewise, the bill on provincial elections is bogged down in procedural matters. The measure is designed to address problems caused when the Sunnis boycotted the January 2005 election, in which provincial councils were chosen. That resulted in Shiites winning power in some areas with Sunni majorities. Shiite lawmakers are not eager to give up those gains.
Legislation to relax the ban on former Baath party members holding government jobs or elective office faces an even tougher road. Shiites and Kurds, who suffered the most under Saddam's Sunni-dominated regime, are reluctant to reinstate thousands of members of the party responsible. The government provides most jobs here, and the ban effectively deprives thousands of former Baath members of a livelihood. Many are Sunnis, and the U.S. believes the rules are driving Sunnis into the insurgency. The main Sunni bloc in parliament wants the rules loosened so that thousands of lower-ranking party members can get their jobs back.
Ali al-Lami, executive secretary of the government committee that screens former party members, said the factions reached a broad compromise during a meeting Feb. 28, whereby the number of Baath members under the ban would be cut by more than half. Other former party members would be offered reinstatement or retirement with pensions, he said. Al-Lami said al-Maliki had endorsed the compromise.
Even if the Democratic proposals never make it through Congress, pressure is mounting for the Iraqis to meet a timetable or risk losing U.S. troops and support. But the Iraqis face a host of obstacles that go to the heart of the crisis. Recent talk of changes in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government may just increase the paralysis as groups maneuver for power.
Iraq missed the Dec. 31 target dates to enact laws establishing provincial elections, regulating distribution of the country's oil wealth and reversing measures that have excluded many Sunnis from jobs and government positions because they belonged to Saddam Hussein's Baath party. The U.S. is also pushing for constitutional amendments to remove articles that the Sunnis believe discriminate in favor of the Shiites and Kurds. U.S. officials also want Iraqis to pass a bill to set new elections for provincial governments to encourage greater public participation at the grass-roots level.
The only success has been a new oil law, which al-Maliki's Cabinet endorsed Feb. 26 and sent to parliament for approval. Leaders of all main political blocs have pledged to support the bill, which lays down rules for negotiating contracts and distributing the revenues among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. But parliament has not taken up the measure yet, and the deputy speaker said the draft may have to be sent back to the Cabinet because al-Maliki's staff skipped some legal steps in endorsing it.
Likewise, the bill on provincial elections is bogged down in procedural matters. The measure is designed to address problems caused when the Sunnis boycotted the January 2005 election, in which provincial councils were chosen. That resulted in Shiites winning power in some areas with Sunni majorities. Shiite lawmakers are not eager to give up those gains.
Legislation to relax the ban on former Baath party members holding government jobs or elective office faces an even tougher road. Shiites and Kurds, who suffered the most under Saddam's Sunni-dominated regime, are reluctant to reinstate thousands of members of the party responsible. The government provides most jobs here, and the ban effectively deprives thousands of former Baath members of a livelihood. Many are Sunnis, and the U.S. believes the rules are driving Sunnis into the insurgency. The main Sunni bloc in parliament wants the rules loosened so that thousands of lower-ranking party members can get their jobs back.
Ali al-Lami, executive secretary of the government committee that screens former party members, said the factions reached a broad compromise during a meeting Feb. 28, whereby the number of Baath members under the ban would be cut by more than half. Other former party members would be offered reinstatement or retirement with pensions, he said. Al-Lami said al-Maliki had endorsed the compromise.
Labels: al-Maliki, Baathists, benchmarks, constitution, draft oil law, oil, provincial elections, security, U.S. support
