Well, did they or didn't they?

[kstewart33]

The NYTimes is not sure. Look at the headline and then read the 1st 3 paragraphs. Top story on the paper's site.

Iraqi Leaders Reach Agreement on New Constitution

By DEXTER FILKINS
Published: August 22, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Aug. 22 - Less than an hour before the deadline for finishing a new constitution, Iraqi leaders said tonight they had reached agreement on the document and were presenting it to Parliament.

Hajim al-Hasani, the speaker of Iraq's national assembly, adjourned the meeting without voting on the draft constitution.
"The constitution is finished," said the Deputy Speaker for the National Assembly, Hussein Shahrastani.

But officials said they would need another three days to resolve disagreements, primarily over federalism and regional autonomy. If the rival parties cannot come to an agreement in that time, each party would be free to take its own position on the constitution, said Hajim M. al-Hassani, the speaker of Parliament.

[Richard Steele]

1. Headline is the OPPOSITE of the story. Dang that Librul Media!

[fob]

2. In all fairness it says they reached an "agreement" on a New Const.

not they created a New Constitution that everyone "agreed" upon.

The agreement reached was that with an hour to go before the deadline, they decided to present what they had at that point to Parliament. At least that's what it sounds like to me, and the rest of the story seems to be describing exactly that. Typical sexed-up headline, sell the "story" not the facts.