Sunnis Offer Bevy of Amendments, Negotiations Continue

[ECH1969]

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Sunni Arab politicians and clerics closed ranks Saturday, proposing a flurry of amendments to a draft constitution they have condemned, while some officials said negotiations could drag on until a nationwide referendum on the charter scheduled for the fall.

Despite announcements by several Shiite politicians that negotiations were complete and the draft constitution was finished, discussions continued feverishly Saturday and may keep on going until, during and after a meeting of the National Assembly scheduled for Sunday.

"There is no D-Day," said Ali Dabagh of the United Iraqi Alliance, the Shiite coalition that dominates the assembly and the Iraqi government. "Negotiations can continue until Oct. 15."

At stake in the constitutional talks is the very definition of Iraq: whether it is an amalgam of identities and regions, or a well-defined state with a strong central government.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-iraq28aug28,0,7970359.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[jmatthan]

1. Doing a John Bolton?

http://MoveTheUN.blogspot.com

[BlueJac]

2. Fuck Bolton, he is an asshole!

[Igel]

3. Continuing negotiations until Oct. 15 is a foolish idea.

I mean, I can see them reaching a consensus on the evening of Oct. 14, and then most people go to the polls on Oct. 15 having no clue what the constitution says.

It's bad enough they won't know what it means.