Bush Steps In as Charter Talks in Iraq Reach Breaking Point - New York Times
Talks over the Iraqi constitution reached a breaking point on Thursday, with a parliamentary session to present the document being canceled and President Bush personally calling one of the country's most powerful Shiite leaders in an effort to broker a last-minute deal.But after so many days of fruitless negotiations, some senior political leaders here suggested that time had run out.
After months of saying that the Iraqi constitutional process would help defuse the insurgency, this is another real blow to the Bush administration. In fact, this constitution fiasco, combined with mixed signals from the Pentagon, Congress, and the White House on troop withdrawal timetables, could possibly galvanize guerillas of all stripes, intensify violent sectarian and ethnic conflict, and draw more "martyrdom" seeking jihadists to Iraq to fight Americans.
It will be difficult to credibly claim that "staying the course" is producing results.
This administration has bungled this project badly. Expectations among Americans and Iraqis weren't properly set. Credible partners in the international community, alienated by America leading up to the war, could not be persuaded to assist in bringing the fractious Iraqi political and interest groups together. Security requirements were badly underestimated.
We've got a terrible mess on our hands.
