U.S. Draft Sets Iraq Election Timetable

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- A new U.S. draft resolution, obtained by The Associated Press on Monday, gives Iraq's Governing Council until Dec. 15 to develop a timetable for elections and a new constitution.

The draft resolution was given to other members of the U.N. Security Council over the weekend and the United States will seek a vote on it this week, diplomats said.

The draft is the latest version of a resolution seeking international troops and money to help the U.S.-led effort to rebuild Iraq. Earlier drafts came under criticism from some European nations seeking a stronger role for the United Nations in Iraq and a speedier timetable for handing over power to Iraqis.

According to the draft, the Governing Council must submit to the Security Council "a timetable and a program for the drafting of a new constitution for Iraq and for the holding of democratic elections under the constitution" by Dec. 15.

Earlier drafts of the resolution had not mentioned any timetable for elections or a new constitution, and the deadline was likely a key concession to other members of the 15-nation Security Council. But it was unclear how far the new draft would go toward assuaging other council members' concerns over the draft.

Like before, the draft calls for the creation of a multinational force to help maintain security in Iraq. But unlike the previous draft, it says the Security Council will review the force's mission no later than a year after the resolution passes.

The latest draft also addresses concerns from U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who had demanded a lead role for the organization or little role at all.

It says the United Nations "should strengthen its vital role in Iraq," saying it can do so by providing humanitarian relief, promoting economic reconstruction and help to restore "institutions for representative governments."

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, who holds the council's rotating presidency for October, said the United States would seek a vote on the resolution sometime this week.

A council diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity said the latest draft had been given to other nations on the 15-member Security Council over the weekend.

Another council diplomat, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said the draft would be formally submitted either late Monday or Tuesday. That diplomat said the new draft would "reflect discussions between the United States, the UK, Spain and others."

The Bush administration launched a review of the resolution following disagreements from council diplomats and Annan's statements.

The United States and Britain have said Iraq must first have a constitution and hold elections before they relinquish sovereignty. France, Germany and Russia are seeking a quick transfer of power to a provisional Iraqi government and want the United Nations to get the major role in overseeing the country's political transition to a democracy.

I don't think any of this will work. Neither will the plans we created for democracy. There are far too many factions that wish to seize power in Iraq.

It seems possible that Iraq will break up into self-ruling cantons. Perhaps that is a better model of government for them. Democracy and equality are not in the vocabulary of the region.

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"Democracy and equality are not in the vocabulary of the region."

Why can't it be? Did the framers of the US Constitution think that?

Thinking that Iraqis are not good enough for democracy is elitist. Heck, Nancy Pelosi agrees with you here.

Thinking that Iraqis are not good enough for democracy is elitist.

I don't see where the poster stated "the Iraqi's weren't good enough for democracy", (hell if they want it, they can have ours, I'd rather have a Constitutional Republic instead), but the fact is, from a realist view not an elitist, they aren't ready for it, because THEY did not rise up and fight for it, period! We can wish this all over the world, but we aren't going to shove it down their throat, much to the shagrin of a number of folk's here. Try the reality approach for a change, it's more palatable. Blackbird.

THEY did not rise up and fight for it, period!

True they did not. But they have a chance to fight for it now. Stopping the car bomb attack on the Bagdad Hotel was an excellent start. But if we let them slip back into a terror supporting nation, we might as well nuke them now. They need to understand that we did not overthrow Sadam for them, we did it for us. And we should support the side of the Iraqis that stays with us through this government reformation.

Yeah, that's like saying the palastinians can overthrow Arafat anytime they want to. In that case, you are executed even if you are accused of being a "traitor".

The Iraqi people didn't have the means or the willpower to rise up against Saddam. As soon as someone displayed individuality and leadership abilities they were percieved as a threat to Saddam and killed.

You hear about the Iraqis struggling to cope with their new freedom because for most of their lives they have been told what to do. If they showed any initiative they were jailed/tortured/killed. (What do you think the people in the mass graves were "guilty" of?) To say that Iraq is not ready for democracy is to misunderstand what Saddam did to remain in power. (Let them hate me, as long as they fear me.)

Question: What country today is ready for democracy? What is the criteria for a people to have to be "ready for democracy"?

What is the criteria for a people to have to be "ready for democracy"?

The Desire to throw off the yoke. I have trouble buying into Liberty that no one had the Desire to fight for themselves. There is a price to pay, and one must be willing to throw down his life to advance the concept. Not everyone survives the struggle for Freedom, and perhaps I'm wrong, only time will tell, but I don't think I'd act too kindly to someone/anyone filling a Mass Grave with my Family member's. I'm pretty sure that would do the trick for me. This is a Centuries old problem throughout the entire region, and this isn't the first time this offer's been on the table. I'm sure the Brit's have offered them better a couple of different times. The concept of Liberty isn't as foriegn to these people as some think. Blackbird.

"The Desire to throw off the yoke,"

Iraqis had the desire to overthrow Saddam, they just couldn't express it.

"The concept of Liberty isn't as foriegn to these people as some think."

That's what I'm saying. You're blaming the tyranny of Saddam on the people of Iraq. If a people can't fight back then that means they like what they have. That is what you are telling me. Freedom is a God given right to everyone, not ot just the people strong enough to achieve it.

Democracy can only take place where there is no bloody power struggle about to take place, and where factions of separatists have ceased to have a hold over the public psyche. It isn't the people of Iraq who aren't ready. It is the people with the guns, let me be more specific. I did not mean this in an elitist sense.

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