Iraq Constitution is Making Progress Despite Concerns

Iraq is moving closer to approving a constitution. The effort, however, has not come without its struggles.

A constitution is a document that defines the basic rules and laws of a nation.   It determines individual rights and the powers of government and its officials.  

A draft (working copy) of the Iraqi constitution was agreed to early in September. Instantly, there were complaints about the document.

The biggest outcry came from Sunni Arabs in the country.

The Sunnis are an ethnic minority in Iraq. They say the early draft of the constitution favors two other groups in the country: the Shiites and Kurds.

The Shiites are the ethnic majority in Iraq. That means there are more Shiites in Iraq than any other ethnic group.

The Kurds live in the northern part of the country. They have lived in semi-independence since the first Persian Gulf War in 1991.

The Shiites and Kurds were ruled by the central Iraqi government in Baghdad, which until last year was headed by President Saddam Hussein.

Hussein was removed from power during the Iraq War.

There are other concerns with the constitution. It does not answer what role Islamic law will play in society. It also does not address legal protections given to women.

Vote to be held before October 15

Government leaders in Iraq have to work out their differences by October 15. That is when Iraqi citizens will vote on the constitution.

United States government leaders hope that a constitution pleasing to all people in Iraq can be worked out.

“The Iraqis are going to have an Iraqi solution,” Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told CNN. “They're going to have to find ways to live together.”

Iraqi officials say that the constitution approved in early September is not final. Changes can be made before the October vote.

U.S. officials said that the thousands of United States troops in Iraq will not leave the country until a government is in place and peace is held.

Peace may not come soon. Terrorist bombings continue in the country.

Bombings kill hundreds of Iraqi citizens each month. On September 14 alone, bombings left more than 160 people dead in central Iraq.

Almost 1,800 American soldiers have died in the war since it began in 2003. Nearly 15,000 have been wounded.