Friday, August 07, 2009
Democracy is having a difficult time taking root in Iraq. When elections are held, such as those in February, turnout has been poor, and citizens in some provinces have not been allowed to vote. But those problems pale in comparison to the government deciding not to hold an election at all, even when it’s required as part of bilateral agreement with another country.
As part of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed with the United States, the Iraqi government was supposed to schedule a referendum for July 30 so its people could ratify the plan that currently calls for the U.S. to withdrawal of all of its combat forces by December 2011. Instead, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki allowed the date to quietly pass without any announcement about the referendum. With the help of a new head of parliament, Maliki is trying to push back the vote until next January, giving his government more time to lobby Iraqis for why the SOFA is a good idea and should be ratified.
If a March ABC/BBC poll is any indication, Maliki will need the extra time. A plurality of Iraqis indicated then that they would prefer the U.S. pull out its 130,000 troops sooner. A rejection of the SOFA would automatically require the Americans to get out by July 30, 2010.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Postponing Iraqi Public Opinion (by Maya Schenwar, Truthout)
Iraq’s Elections: Success with Worrisome Details (by David Wallechinsky, AllGov)
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