re: Looking at the Iraqi constitution
I probably did overstate the partisan aspects of the situation; I'm just in one of those moods.
Rather, it's just that it seems that concern over a timetable and getting it done quickly risks getting it done badly, which would be bad for everybody. When I read the draft, I saw places where it had the potential to set up conflicts in the future, and nobody'd disagree that things are tough in Iraq and the Iraqis don't need any extra problems.
But to say that
In the end, this will be an Iraqi constitution and no doubt it will have some problems as far as Iraqis are concerned.
is to overlook that we have lots of responsibilities in Iraq. Our prior actions have brought us to the point where Iraqis are writing a constition, with our help, and so certainly the problems down the road implementing it are our responsibility too. I wouldn't want adoption of the Constitution to be used as a pretext for premature withdrawal. While I don't thank Bush for getting us into this, I have to adhere to the Pottery Barn Rule: Bush broke it, we own it.