Ever the optimist eh Tom? Too bad the only positive spin we can put on this is to root against the constitution they have been squabbling over so long. Unless of course they don't reach agreement by tomorrow on the other issues in dispute.

Collapse of the constitutional talks might in fact be the best alternative at this point. It would start everything back to where it was in January, which would probably hearten the bad guys, but it would also mean the next elected government would not be so dominated by Shiite Islamists.

One way or another we have a long haul, if ever, before Iraq looks anything like a true democratic nation.