[Dean's World] Dave Price: Democratic Process Rolls Onward In Iraq

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Dave Price:
Democratic Process Rolls Onward In Iraq
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1159817146.shtml


   Maliki has presented [1]a new political plan for security in Baghdad.

     Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki emerged with the four-point plan
     after talks with the top Sunni and Shiite leaders in his
     government, trying to prevent a crisis over rising tensions between
     the two Islamic sects.
     Under the plan, local commissions will be formed in each district
     of Baghdad, made up of representatives of each party, to oversee
     security forces' efforts against violence, al-Maliki said. A
     central committee comprising all the parties will coordinate with
     the armed forces, he said.
     A media committee also will be formed, and the progress of the plan
     will be reviewed monthly, al-Maliki said.

   The local representation and consequent buy-in to the process are
   critical, as is the multiparty (or perhaps more relevantly,
   multi-sect) oversight; there is a lot of distrust right now. This
   seems pretty well-conceived in terms of addressing everyone's needs.
   While there are many Sunni and Shiite extremists carrying out
   atrocities, polling tends to indicate they're a small proportion of
   either sect. This should help bring the moderates into the process,
   empowering them to work together to resolve differences peacefully,
   rather than falling deeper into violent factionalism -- which is,
   really, the essence of democracy.
   Ultimately, Iraqis have to live in Iraq, and they're going to have
   figure out how to stop the violence caused by other Iraqis. But even
   with the continuing violence, every month that the new government
   stays in power, grows its forces, and makes serious attempts like this
   to govern in a united fashion is another solid brick laid for a
   permanently free and democratic Iraq. There still seems to be no
   existential threat to this gvernment, perhaps largely because almost
   everyone agrees that any of the players who could replace the elected
   government would be much worse: they are blessed with unpopular
   enemies.

References

   1. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061002/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_061002163821;_ylt=Amu9IUmWV.zT3E.TyM5J_1JX6GMA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl